Na+/Ca2+ exchanger activity induces a slow DC potential after in vitro ischemia in rat hippocampal CA1 region

Arachidonic acid metabolites contribute to the irreversible depolarization induced by in vitro ischemia

Intracellular recordings were made from hippocampal CA1 neurons in rat slice preparations. Superfusion with oxygen- and glucose-deprived medium (in vitro ischemia) produced a rapid depolarization approximately 5 min after the onset of the superfusion. Even when oxygen and glucose were reintroduced immediately after rapid depolarization, the membrane depolarized further (persistent depolarization) and reached 0 mV (irreversible depolarization) after 5 min from the reintroduction. The pretreatment of the slice preparation with a phospholipase A2 (PLA2) inhibitor, para-bromophenacyl bromide, or a cytochrome p-450 inhibitor, 17-octadecynoic acid, significantly restored the membrane to the preexposure potential level after the reintroduction of oxygen and glucose. The administration of 14,15-epoxyeicosatrienoic acid or 20-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid did not change the latency of the rapid depolarization and did not allow the membrane potential to recover after the ischemic exposure. In contrast, after pretreatment with cyclooxygenase or lipoxygenase inhibitors, such as indomethacin, resveratrol, Dup-697, nordihydroguaiaretic acid, and 3,4-dihydrophenyl ethanol, a minority of neurons tested showed postischemic recovery from the persistent depolarization. Improved recovery was also seen after treatment with the free radical scavengers, edaravone and alpha-tocopherol. These results suggest that the activation of the arachidonic acid cascade via PLA2 and the free radicals produced by arachidonic acid metabolism contribute to the irreversible depolarization produced by in vitro ischemia.

Extrusion of intracellular calcium ion after in vitro ischemia in the rat hippocampal CA1 region

Simultaneous recordings of intracellular Ca(2+) ([Ca(2+)](i)) signal and extracellular DC potential were obtained from the CA1 region in 1-[6-amino-2-(5-carboxy-2-oxazolyl)-5-benzofuranyloxy]-2-(2-amino-5-methylphenoxy)-ethane-N,N,N',N'-tetraacetic acid penta-acetoxymethyl ester (Fura-2/AM)-loaded rat hippocampal slices. Superfusion with oxygen- and glucose-deprived medium (in vitro ischemia) for 5-6 min produced a rapid rise of the [Ca(2+)](i) level in the stratum radiatum (rising phase of the [Ca(2+)](i) signal), which occurred simultaneously with a rapid negative DC potential (rapid negative potential). When oxygen and glucose were reintroduced, the increased [Ca(2+)](i) signal diminished rapidly (falling phase of the [Ca(2+)](i) signal) during the generation of a slow negative DC potential (slow negative potential), which occurred within 1 min from the onset of the reintroduction. Thereafter, the [Ca(2+)](i) signal partially and the slow negative potential completely returned to the preexposure level approximately 6 min after the reintroduction. The changes in [Ca(2+)](i) signal during and after in vitro ischemia were very similar to the changes in the membrane potential of glial cells. The rising and falling phases of [Ca(2+)](i) signal corresponded to the rapid depolarization and a depolarizing hump, respectively, in the repolarizing phase of glial cells. A prolonged application of in vitro ischemia or a reintroduction of either glucose or oxygen suppressed the falling phase after ischemic exposure. The application of ouabain (30 microM) generated both a rapid negative potential and a rapid elevation of [Ca(2+)](i), but no slow negative potential or rapid reduction in [Ca(2+)](i) were observed. When oxygen and glucose were reintroduced to slices in the Na(+)-free or ouabain- or Ni(2+)-containing medium, the falling phase was suppressed. The falling phase was significantly accelerated in Ca(2+)- and Mg(2+)-free with EGTA-containing medium. In contrast, the falling phase was significantly slower in the Ca(2+)-free with high Mg(2+)- and EGTA-containing medium. The falling phase of the [Ca(2+)](i) signal after ischemic exposure is thus considered to be primarily dependent on the reactivation of Na(+), K(+)-ATPases, while the extrusion of cytosolic Ca(2+) via the forward-mode operation of Na(+)/Ca(2+) exchangers in glial cells is thought to be directly involved in the rapid reduction of [Ca(2+)](i) after ischemic exposure.

Protective effect of high glucose against ischemia-induced synaptic transmission damage in rat hippocampal slices

Cerebral ischemic damage is an important cause of morbidity and mortality. However, there is conflicting evidence regarding the effect of the extracellular glucose concentration in focal and global ischemic injury. This study was designed to investigate this effect in ischemia-induced synaptic transmission damage in rat hippocampal slices. Slices were superfused with artificial cerebrospinal fluid (ACSF) containing various concentrations of glucose before and after ischemia. The evoked somatic postsynaptic population spike (PS) and dendritic field excitatory postsynaptic potential (fEPSP) were extracellularly recorded in the CA1 stratum pyramidal cell layer and s. radiatum after stimulation of the Schaeffer collaterals, respectively. The glucose concentration in ACSF before and after ischemia determined the duration of ischemia tolerated by synaptic transmission as demonstrated by complete recovery of the somatic PS and dendritic fEPSP. Specifically, the somatic PS and dendritic fEPSP completely recovered following 3, 4, and 5 min of ischemia only when slices were superfused with ACSF containing 4, 10, and 20 mM glucose before and after ischemia, respectively. The latencies of the somatic and dendritic ischemic depolarization (ID) occurrence in the CA1 s. pyramidal cell layer and s. radiatum were significantly longer with 10 than 4 mM glucose in ACSF before ischemia and significantly longer with 20 than 10 mM glucose in ACSF before ischemia. Regardless of the glucose concentration in ACSF before and after ischemia, the somatic PS and dendritic fEPSP only partially recovered when ischemia was terminated at the occurrence of ID. These results indicate that high glucose in ACSF during the period before and after ischemia significantly protects CA1 synaptic transmission against in vitro ischemia-induced damage through postponing the occurrence of ID.

The effects of aging on gene expression in the hypothalamus and cortex of mice

A better understanding of the molecular effects of aging in the brain may help to reveal important aspects of organismal aging, as well as processes that lead to age-related brain dysfunction. In this study, we have examined differences in gene expression in the hypothalamus and cortex of young and aged mice by using high-density oligonucleotide arrays. A number of key genes involved in neuronal structure and signaling are differentially expressed in both the aged hypothalamus and cortex, including synaptotagmin I, cAMP-dependent protein kinase C beta, apolipoprotein E, protein phosphatase 2A, and prostaglandin D. Misregulation of these proteins may contribute to age-related memory deficits and neurodegenerative diseases. In addition, many proteases that play essential roles in regulating neuropeptide metabolism, amyloid precursor protein processing, and neuronal apoptosis are up-regulated in the aged brain and likely contribute significantly to brain aging. Finally, a subset of these genes whose expression is affected by aging are oppositely affected by exposure of mice to an enriched environment, suggesting that these genes may play important roles in learning and memory.