Sodium-potassium adenosine triphosphatase inhibition enhances membrane accumulation of DiI in rat hippocampus in vivo

Differential effects of Na-K-ATPase pump inhibition, chemical anoxia, and glycolytic blockade on membrane potential of rat optic nerve

Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase pump failure during either anoxia or ouabain perfusion induces rapid axonal depolarization by dissipating ionic gradients. In this study, we examined the interplay between cation and anion transporting pathways mediating axonal depolarization during anoxia or selective Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase inhibition. Compound resting membrane (V(m)) potential of rat optic nerve was measured in a grease gap at 37 degrees C. Chemical anoxia (2 mM NaCN or NaN(3)) or ouabain (1 mM) caused a loss of resting potential to 42 +/- 11% and 47 +/- 2% of control after 30 min, respectively. Voltage-gated Na(+)-channel blockade was partially effective in abolishing this depolarization. TTX (1 microM) reduced depolarization to 73 +/- 10% (chemical anoxia) and 68 +/- 4% (ouabain) of control. Quaternary amine Na(+) channel blockers QX-314 (1 mM) or prajmaline (100 microM) produced similar results. Residual ionic rundown largely representing co-efflux of K(+) and Cl(-) during chemical anoxia in the presence of Na(+)-channel blockade was further spared with DIDS (500 microM), a broad-spectrum anion transport inhibitor (95 +/- 8% of control after 30 min in anoxia + TTX vs. 73 +/- 10% in TTX alone). Addition of DIDS was slightly more effective than TTX alone in ouabain (74 +/- 5% DIDS + TTX vs. 68 +/- 4% in TTX alone, P < 0.05). Additional Na(+)-entry pathways such as the Na-K-Cl cotransporter were examined using bumetanide, which produced a modest albeit significant sparing of V(m) during ouabain-induced depolarization. Although cation-transporting pathways play the more important role in mediating pathological depolarization of central axons, anion-coupled transporters also contribute to a significant, albeit more minor, degree.

Detection of early tissue injury in vivo using fluorescent cell death markers in rat dentate gyrus

Fluorescent markers of cell death offer superior selectivity and sensitivity, although their applicability in detecting tissue injury under in vivo conditions remains uncertain. Here we examined whether ethidium bromide and Hoechst 33342, two widely used markers for cell necrosis and apoptosis, can be used in vivo to detect different types of cell death induced by Na,K-ATPase inhibition. Microinfusion of fluorescent markers and ouabain was made unilaterally into adult rat dentate gyrus. It was found that, at different time points post-injury, dentate cells that were exposed to ouabain but not to vehicle control showed marked loss of membrane integrity and exhibited nuclear condensation, as revealed by ethidium bromide and Hoechst 33342 staining, respectively. However, this pattern of cell death was not associated with DNA fragmentation and formation of apoptotic bodies, suggesting involvement of atypical cell apoptosis.