Differential NMDA receptor-dependent calcium loading and mitochondrial dysfunction in CA1 vs. CA3 hippocampal neurons.

Abstract

Hippocampal CA1 pyramidal neurons are selectively vulnerable to ischemia, while adjacent CA3 neurons are relatively resistant. Although glutamate receptor-mediated mitochondrial Ca(2+) overload and dysfunction is a major component of ischemia-induced neuronal death, no direct relationship between selective neuronal vulnerability and mitochondrial dysfunction has been demonstrated in intact brain preparations. Here, we show that in organotypic slice cultures NMDA induces much larger Ca(2+) elevations in vulnerable CA1 neurons than in resistant CA3. Consequently, CA1 mitochondria exhibit stronger calcium accumulation, more extensive swelling and damage, stronger depolarization of their membrane potential, and a significant increase in ROS generation. NMDA-induced Ca(2+) and ROS elevations were abolished in Ca(2+)-free medium or by NMDAR antagonists, but not by zinc chelation. We conclude that Ca(2)(+) overload-dependent mitochondrial dysfunction is a determining factor in the selective vulnerability of CA1 neurons.

• Authors: Ruslan I Stanika, Christine A Winters, Natalia B Pivovarova, S Brian Andrews
• Journal: Neurobiology of disease (Neurobiol Dis) Vol. 37 Issue 2 Pg. 403-11 (Feb 2010) ISSN: 1095-953X [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 19879359 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, N.I.H., Intramural)

Chemical References

• Excitatory Amino Acid Agonists
• Excitatory Amino Acid Antagonists
• Reactive Oxygen Species
• Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate
• Calcium

Topics

• Animals
• Animals, Newborn
• Brain Ischemia (metabolism, pathology, physiopathology)
• CA1 Region, Hippocampal (metabolism, pathology, physiopathology)
• CA3 Region, Hippocampal (metabolism, pathology, physiopathology)
• Calcium (metabolism, toxicity)
• Calcium Signaling (physiology)
• Causality
• Cell Respiration (drug effects, physiology)
• Energy Metabolism (drug effects, physiology)
• Excitatory Amino Acid Agonists (pharmacology)
• Excitatory Amino Acid Antagonists (pharmacology)
• Membrane Potential, Mitochondrial (drug effects, physiology)
• Mitochondria (drug effects, metabolism)
• Nerve Degeneration (metabolism, pathology, physiopathology)
• Organ Culture Techniques
• Rats
• Rats, Sprague-Dawley
• Reactive Oxygen Species (metabolism)
• Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate (agonists, antagonists & inhibitors, metabolism)