c-Jun N-terminal kinase-3 (JNK3), the only neural-specific
isoform, may play an important role in excitotoxicity and neuronal injury. To analyze the variation of JNK3 activation, levels of phospho-JNK3 were measured at various time points of
ischemia and selected time points of reperfusion, respectively. Our study illustrated that JNK3 was rapidly activated and translocated from cytosol to nucleus during
ischemia. During reperfusion, two peaks of JNK3 activation occurred at 30 min and 3 days, respectively. To further define the mechanism of JNK3 activation,
antioxidant N-acetylcysteine (NAC), alpha-amino-3-hydroxyl-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic
acid (
AMPA)/
kainate (KA) receptor antagonist 6,7-dinitro-quinoxaline-2,3(1H,4H)-dione (
DNQX),
N-methyl-D-aspartate (
NMDA) receptor antagonist
ketamine and L-type voltage-gated Ca(2+) channel (L-VGCC) antagonist
nifedipine were given to the rats 20 min prior to
ischemia. The results showed that NAC obviously inhibited JNK3 activation during the early reperfusion, whereas
DNQX preferably attenuated JNK3 activation during the latter reperfusion.
Ketamine and
nifedipine had no significant effects on JNK3 activation during reperfusion. Consequently,
reactive oxygen species (ROS) and
AMPA/KA receptor were closely associated with JNK3 activation following global
ischemia.