Exposure to micromolar concentrations of hemoglobin (Hb) results in the oxidative death of cultured cortical neurons, but glia are resistant. The role of heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) induction on this glial resistance was investigated. Within two hours of exposure to 5 microM Hb, immunoblotting demonstrated an increase in HO-1 in confluent glial cultures. Consistent with prior observations, 23-30 h Hb exposure had little or no effect on glial viability, as assessed by lactate dehydrogenase release. Concomitant treatment with the HO inhibitors tin protoporphyrin IX or the D-amino acid peptide rvnlrialry resulted in release of 40-71% of glial lactate dehydrogenase; protein synthesis inhibition with cycloheximide produced a similar effect. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that HO-1 induction protects cortical astrocytes from Hb toxicity.