Effect of in vivo exposure to hypoxia on muscarinic cholinergic receptor-coupled phosphoinositide turnover in the rat brain

Animal models for neonatal brain injury induced by hypoxic ischemic conditions in rodents

Neonatal hypoxia-ischemia and resulting encephalopathies are of significant concern. Intrapartum asphyxia is a leading cause of neonatal death globally. Among surviving infants, there remains a high incidence of hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy due to neonatal hypoxic-ischemic brain injury, manifesting as mild conditions including attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, and debilitating disorders such as cerebral palsy. Various animal models of neonatal hypoxic brain injury have been implemented to explore cellular and molecular mechanisms, assess the potential of novel therapeutic strategies, and characterize the functional and behavioural correlates of injury. Each of the animal models has individual advantages and limitations. The present review looks at several widely-used and alternative rodent models of neonatal hypoxia and hypoxia-ischemia; it highlights their strengths and limitations, and their potential for continued and improved use.

Possible role of cholinesterase inhibitors on memory consolidation following hypobaric hypoxia of rats

High altitude (HA) generates a deleterious effect known as hypobaric hypoxia (HBH). This causes severe physiological and psychological changes such as acute mountain sickness (AMS) and cognitive functions in terms of learning and memory. The present study has evaluated the effect of cholinesterase inhibitors on memory consolidation following HBH. Adult male Sprague Dawley rats (80-90 days old) with an average body weight of 250 ± 25 g were used. Rats were assessed memory consolidation by using Morris water maze (MWM) for 8 days. After assessment of memory consolidation, rats were then exposed to HBH in stimulated chamber for 7 days at 6,100 m. After exposure to HBH, the memory consolidation of rats has been assessed in MWM. The results showed that there was memory consolidation impairment in HBH-exposed rats as compared to normoxic rats in terms of time spent in quaradents, rings, and counters. The rats which have been treated with physostigmine (PHY) and galantamine (GAL) showed better time spent in quaradents, rings, and counters as compared with hypoxic rats. In conclusion, the cholinesterase inhibitors could ameliorate the impairment of memory consolidation following HBH.

Hypoxia modulates cholinergic but not opioid activation of G proteins in rat hippocampus

Intermittent hypoxia, such as that associated with obstructive sleep apnea, can cause neuronal death and neurobehavioral dysfunction. The cellular and molecular mechanisms through which hypoxia alter hippocampal function are incompletely understood. This study used in vitro [(35)S]guanylyl-5'-O-(gamma-thio)-triphosphate ([(35)S]GTP gamma S) autoradiography to test the hypothesis that carbachol and DAMGO activate hippocampal G proteins. In addition, this study tested the hypothesis that in vivo exposure to different oxygen (O(2)) concentrations causes a differential activation of G proteins in the CA1, CA3, and dentate gyrus (DG) regions of the hippocampus. G protein activation was quantified as nCi/g tissue in CA1, CA3, and DG from rats housed for 14 days under one of three different oxygen conditions: normoxic (21% O(2)) room air, or hypoxia (10% O(2)) that was intermittent or sustained. Across all regions of the hippocampus, activation of G proteins by the cholinergic agonist carbachol and the mu opioid agonist [D-Ala(2), N-Met-Phe(4), Gly(5)] enkephalin (DAMGO) was ordered by the degree of hypoxia such that sustained hypoxia > intermittent hypoxia > room air. Carbachol increased G protein activation during sustained hypoxia (38%), intermittent hypoxia (29%), and room air (27%). DAMGO also activated G proteins during sustained hypoxia (52%), intermittent hypoxia (48%), and room air (43%). Region-specific comparisons of G protein activation revealed that the DG showed significantly less activation by carbachol following intermittent hypoxia and sustained hypoxia than the CA1. Considered together, the results suggest the potential for hypoxia to alter hippocampal function by blunting the cholinergic activation of G proteins within the DG.

Prolonged exposure to hypobaric hypoxia transiently reduces GABA(A) receptor number in mice cerebral cortex

The central nervous system is severely affected by hypoxic conditions, which produce alterations in neural cytoarchitecture and neurotransmission, resulting in a variety of neuropathological conditions such as convulsive states, neurobehavioral impairment and motor CNS alterations. Some of the neuropathologies observed in hypobaric hypoxia, corresponding to high altitude conditions, have been correlated with a loss of balance between excitatory and inhibitory neurotransmission, produced by alterations in glutamatergic and GABAergic receptors. In the present work, we have studied the effect of chronic hypobaric hypoxia (506 hPa, 18 h/day x 21 days) applied to adult male mice on GABA(A) receptors from cerebral cortex, to determine whether hypoxic exposure may irreversibly affect central inhibitory neurotransmission. Saturation curves for [3H]GABA specifically bound to GABA(A) receptors in isolated synaptic membranes showed a 30% decrease in maximal binding capacity after hypoxic exposure (Bmax control, 4.70+/-0.19, hypoxic, 3.33+/-0.10 pmol/mg protein), with no effect on GABA binding sites affinity (Kd control: 159.3+/-13.3 nM, hypoxic: 164.2+/-15.1 nM). Decreased B(max) values were observed up to the 10th post-hypoxic day, returning to control values by the 15th post-hypoxic day. Pharmacological properties of GABA(A) receptor were also affected by hypoxic exposure, with a 45 to 51% increase in the maximal effect by positive allosteric modulators (pentobarbital and 5alpha-pregnan-3alpha-ol-20-one). We conclude that long-term hypoxia produces a significant but reversible reduction on GABA binding to GABA(A) receptor sites in cerebral cortex, which may reflect an adaptive response to this sustained pathophysiological state.

In vivo hypoxia-induced neuronal damage with an enhancement of neuronal nitric oxide synthase immunoreactivity in hippocampus

Although it is well known that brain ischemia is dominantly caused by hypoxia and hypoglycemia, it is still unclear how hypoxia participates in ischemia. We studied the changes in neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) and the effect of the NOS inhibitor NG-nitro-L-arginine (NNA) on hypoxia. In vivo hypoxia (5% O2/95% N2 for 30 min) induced mild degenerative neuronal changes (shrunken and eosinophilic somata with picnotic nuclei) in neurons of the CA3, the hilus of the dentate gyrus (DG) and the DG, but not in the CA1. At 3 and 7 days after hypoxia, levels of nNOS protein were significantly enhanced to 153 and 209%, but iNOS protein could not be detected. The numbers of nNOS-immunopositive neurons were significantly enhanced to 145 and 191% in the CA3, 145 and 178% in the hilus of the DG, and 243 and 387% in the DG after 3 and 7 days, respectively. In contrast, no statistical difference was determined in the CA1. We further examined the effect of NNA administered at 5 min and 3, 6, and 24 h after hypoxia. Administration of NNA (0.1 and 1 mg/kg, i.p.) significantly decreased the number of damaged neurons in the hilus of the DG and the DG. However, higher doses of NNA (10 mg/kg, i.p.) did not prevent damage. These results suggest that hypoxia alone induces enhancement of nNOS protein and nNOS immunoreactivity in neurons of the hippocampus and that NNA has biphasic effects against hypoxia-induced neuronal damage in the hilus of the DG and the DG.

In vivo hypoxia-induced neuronal damage in dentate gyrus of rat hippocampus: changes in NMDA receptors and the effect of MK-801

Hypoxia is a major cause of ischaemia-induced neuronal damage. In the present study, we examined the effects of in vivo hypoxia on N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors (NMDAR) in the rat hippocampus. This model of in vivo hypoxia involved placing rats in a hypoxic chamber containing 5% O2 and 95% N2 for 30 min. In the hippocampus, neuronal cells in the CA3, the hilus of the dentate gyrus and the dentate gyrus (DG) were damaged. In the CA1, which is known to be vulnerable to ischaemic damage, neuronal cells did not show hypoxia-induced damage. In vivo hypoxia-induced damage caused morphological changes in neuronal cells, such as shrunken, spindle or triangular shapes accompanied by pyknotic nuclei, but did not induce the loss of neuronal cells. On the other hand, the number of binding sites for [3H]-1-[1-(2-thienyl)cyclohexyl]-3,4-piperidine hydrochloride (TCP) gradually decreased on and after 7 days, and then maximally decreased by 25% at 21 days after hypoxia. The number of NMDAR1-immunopositive cells was decreased by 22% in the DG, but was unchanged in the CA3. Furthermore, we examined the effect of a non-competitive NMDA antagonist, (+)-5-methyl-10, 11-dihydro-5H-dibenzo[a,b] cyclohepten-5,10-imine hydrogen maleate (MK-801), on against in vivo hypoxia. The administration of MK-801 (3 mg/kg, i.p.), 30 min before hypoxia treatment, partly protected against neuronal damage in the DG, but not in the CA3. These results suggest that hypoxia-induced neuronal damage in the DG involves, in part, the activation of NMDAR.

Delayed expression of c-fos protein in rat hippocampus and cerebral cortex following transient in vivo exposure to hypoxia

The time course of c-fos protein expression after hypoxia was examined in rat hippocampus and cerebral cortex using an immunohistochemical method. The rats were exposed to in vivo hypoxia for 30 min in a chamber containing 5% O2 and 95% N2. Immediately after the treatment, c-fos protein-like immunoreactivity was observed in the granule cell layer of the dentate gyrus. The change was transient, and the density of immunoreactive cells returned quickly to a control level 3 h after the exposure. However, the density of positive cells was again increased 1 day after hypoxia and reached the maximum 7 days after. In the cerebral cortex, on the other hand, no change was detected in the pattern of staining at any time, with an exception on 21 days after hypoxia. At this period, positively stained neurons were significantly increased in both density and intensity throughout the entire extent of the cerebral cortex including the cingulate gyrus. These results clearly indicate that hypoxia induces different patterns of c-fos protein expression among various regions of the brain. The biphasic pattern seen in the dentate gyrus as well as the delayed expression in the cerebral cortex may be related to delayed neuronal damages induced by hypoxia.

Neuronal damage in the rat hippocampus induced by in vivo hypoxia

Rats were subjected to hypoxia for 30 min in a chamber containing 5% O2 and 95% N2. The distribution of damaged neurons in the hippocampus was then examined at various predetermined times, ranging from 3 hours to 21 days after hypoxia. Hematoxylin-eosin stained sections showed shrunken and eosinophilic neurons in the CA3 and CA4 regions. Similar, but less severe, changes were also observed in the granule cell layer of the dentate gyrus. In contrast, neurons in the CA1 region were relatively resistant to hypoxia. These results showed the susceptibility of the hippocampus to hypoxia, although the affected neurons are not the same as those vulnerable to ischemia.

Changes in protein kinase C isozymes in the rat hippocampus following transient hypoxia

The effects of hypoxia on protein kinase C (PKC) isozymes (alpha, beta I, beta II, and gamma) were examined in the hippocampus from rats subjected to hypoxic conditions (5% O2 in 95% N2) for 30 min in a chamber. Western blot analysis revealed that the total amounts of PKC-alpha (-26.0% of control) and -gamma (-32.7% of control) were decreased significantly at the end of hypoxia, which was followed by the reduction of that of PKC-beta II (-23.7% of control at 7 days after hypoxia). Whereas, the PKC activities, which were measured by the incorporation of [gamma-32P] into a specific PKC substrate peptide, in both the cytosolic and the particulate fractions did not change. The reductions of PKC-gamma and -alpha at the end of hypoxia may be related to the following neuronal degeneration.

Effect of muscarinic cholinergic drugs on ischemia-induced decreases in glucose uptake and CA1 field potentials in rat hippocampus slices

To clarify the role of muscarinic acetylcholine receptors in the hypoxia/hypoglycemia (ischemia)-induced functional deficit in hippocampal neurons, we examined the effect of cholinergic drugs on ischemia-induced impairments of glucose uptake and CA1 field potentials in hippocampus slices. Muscarinic receptors were subdivided into M1 (high affinity for pirenzepine) and M2 (low affinity for pirenzepine) subtypes. The M1 receptor subtype is coupled to an increase in phosphoinositide hydrolysis and the M2 receptor subtype is associated with inhibition of adenylate cyclase. The greater potency of carbachol in stimulating phosphoinositide hydrolysis resulted in exacerbated ischemia-induced deficits. Treatment with the muscarinic receptor antagonists scopolamine and pirenzepine (M1 receptor-selective antagonist) had a strong dose-dependent protective effect against ischemia-induced deficits. Oxotremorine and McN-A-343, weak stimulators of phosphoinositide hydrolysis and strong inhibitors of adenylate cyclase, had a weak neuroprotective action against ischemia-induced deficits. These results suggest that stimulation of M1 muscarinic receptors coupled with an increase in phosphoinositide hydrolysis may play a facilitatory role in ischemia-induced deficits. Stimulation of M2 muscarinic receptors may play an inhibitory role in ischemia-induced neuronal deficits.

Neurokinin A-stimulated phosphoinositide breakdown in rabbit iris sphincter muscle

Specific [3H]-substance P binding was saturable and of high affinity (KD = 2.5 nM) with a Bmax of 725 fmol/mg protein in the isolated rabbit iris sphincter muscle. The competition for [3H]-substance P binding was in the order of eledoisin greater than substance P greater than kassinin greater than neurokinin B greater than neurokinin A greater than physalaemin. In the same preparation, neurokinin A, as well as substance P induced a concentration-related accumulation of [3H]-inositol phosphates (IPs), and the maximum increase was about 200% of the control at 10(-4) M. [D-Arg1, D-Trp7,9, Leu11]-substance P (SP) and [D-Pro2, D-Trp7,9]-SP (10(-3) M) inhibited substance P or neurokinin A (10(-4) M)-induced phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PIP2) hydrolysis significantly. [D-Arg1, D-Pro2, D-Trp7,9, Leu11]-SP (10(-3) M) also inhibited neurokinin A (10(-4) M)-induced PIP2 hydrolysis significantly. Neurokinin A and substance P produced concentration-related contractions in normal Ca(2+)-containing medium. The contractile response was weaker in Ca(2+)-free medium, and there was no response in 0.2 mM EGTA medium. In Ca(2+)-free medium, the basal level of [3H]-IPs accumulation was smaller than that in normal medium, and neurokinin A and substance P significantly increased PIP2 hydrolysis. In the 0.2 mM EGTA containing medium, neurokinin A and substance P did not stimulate the PIP2 hydrolysis.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Age-related changes in receptor-mediated phosphoinositide hydrolysis in various regions of rat brain

The effects of age on cholinergic markers and receptor-stimulated phosphoinositide hydrolysis was examined in the frontal cortex and striatum of male Fischer-344 rats. Choline acetyltransferase activity was decreased 27% in the striatum of aged (24 month) rats compared to young (3 month) controls. Muscarinic receptor density as measured by [3H]-quinuclidinyl benzilate binding showed a similar 26% decrease in the striatum of aged rats. Phosphoinositide hydrolysis was measured by the release of inositol phosphate (IP) from tissue slices prelabeled with [3H]myoinositol in response to carbachol, norepinephrine, and quisqualate. In the cortex, stimulated IP release was significantly greater in slices from aged rats compared to young rats for all three agonists. In contrast, stimulated IP release was significantly decreased in striatal slices from aged rats compared to young for all three agonists. These data indicate a differential effect of age on agonist-stimulated phosphoinositide hydrolysis in the cortex and striatum. The decreased responsiveness in the latter area may result from the age-related loss of postsynaptic receptors.