Abstract: Methods of treating or preventing neuronal loss associated with stroke, ischemia, CNS trauma, hypoglycemia and surgery, as well as treating neurodegenerative diseases including Alzheimer's disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Huntington's disease, and Down's syndrome, treating or preventing adverse consequences of the hyperactivity of the excitatory amino acids, as well as treating anxiety, chronic pain, convulsions, inducing anesthesia, and treating or preventing opiate tolerance are disclosed by administering to an animal in need of such treatment or prevention a substituted or unsubstituted pyridine and pyridine (N-oxide) analogs of 4-hydroxydihydroquinolones, tetrahydroquinoline-trione-oximes and quinoxalones, tautomers and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, which have high binding to the glycine receptor.