Acute glutamate toxicity and its potentiation by serum albumin are determined by the Ca2+ concentration.
Two different processes, mediated by the N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor, appear to cause acute cell death in cultured cerebellar granule cells. A Ca(2+)-independent process takes place at zero and very low concentration of the added cation. Under these conditions, the known destabilization of excitable membranes at low extracellular Ca2+ probably plays a major role. A Ca(2+)-dependent process becomes dominant as its concentration is increased above 1.0 mM. The remarkable potentiation of glutamate toxicity by serum albumin is a calcium-dependent reaction.
Department of Biological Chemistry, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel.
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Eimerl
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D002118:Calcium / Q000502:physiology*; D016923:Cell Death / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002531:Cerebellum / Q000166:cytology; D004357:Drug Synergism; D005971:Glutamates / Q000633:toxicity*; D018698:Glutamic Acid; D016194:Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate / Q000187:drug effects; D012709:Serum Albumin / Q000502:physiology*
D005971:Glutamates; D016194:Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate; D012709:Serum Albumin; D018698:Glutamic Acid; D002118:Calcium