Adaptation to moderate hypoxia protects cortical neurons against ischemia-reperfusion injury and excitotoxicity independently of HIF-1α

► Neurons adapted to 1% O2 were protected against ischemia-reperfusion injury ► Neurons from 1% O2 were also protected against glutamate excitotoxicity ► Protection did not result from any change in expression of NMDA receptors ► Inhibition of prolyl hydroxylase also protected neurons against injury ► The protection by adaptation to hypoxia occurred independently of HIF-1α