Glutamate-induced destabilization of intracellular calcium concentration homeostasis in cultured cerebellar granule cells: role of mitochondria in calcium buffering.
The exposure of cultured cerebellar granule cells for 4 min to glutamate (50 microM) in a Mg2+-free medium containing 10 microM glycine elicited a prompt increase of the intracellular Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i) to 5 microM, which was followed by a decline to 1.5 microM (as measured using fura-2); both events occurred while the glutamate pulse increased the intracellular sodium concentration ([Na+]i) to an estimated 60-100 mM. Because under these circumstances the plasma membrane Na+/Ca2+ exchanger cannot extrude Ca2+, other mechanisms should operate in causing the [Ca2+]i decline. To evaluate a possible role of intracellular Ca2+ stores in Ca2+ buffering, thapsigargin, ryanodine, and dantrolene were tested. Thapsigargin (1 microM) and ryanodine (10 microM) failed to modify the glutamate-elicited [Ca2+]i transients; results with dantrolene could not be considered because this drug by itself affected the fura-2 fluorescence. In contrast, carbonyl cyanide m-chlorophenylhydrazone (1 microM) and antimycin A1 (1 microM), which dissipate mitochondrial membrane potential by different mechanisms, virtually abolished the [Ca2+]i decline occurring either during glutamate application or after its removal. Moreover, when the residual [Na+]i increase persisting after glutamate removal was artificially abated, the Ca2+-buffering capacity of neurons was significantly improved. These data suggest that most of the Ca2+ entering the neurons during excitotoxic glutamate exposure is diverted to mitochondria and that the glutamate-induced increase of [Na+]i limits this mitochondrial Ca2+-buffering capacity, presumably via activation of the mitochondrial Na+/Ca2+ exchanger.
Kiedrowski
L
L
Center for Neuropharmacology, Nathan S. Kline Institute for Psychiatric Research, New York University, Orangeburg 10962.
Costa
E
E
D000818:Animals; D002021:Buffers; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism*; D002258:Carbonyl Cyanide m-Chlorophenyl Hydrazone / Q000494:pharmacology; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002531:Cerebellum / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D003594:Cytoplasmic Granules / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D018698:Glutamic Acid / Q000633:toxicity*; D006706:Homeostasis / Q000187:drug effects*; D007424:Intracellular Fluid / Q000378:metabolism; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012433:Ryanodine / Q000494:pharmacology; D012964:Sodium / Q000494:pharmacology; D019831:Sodium-Calcium Exchanger; D013729:Terpenes / Q000494:pharmacology; D019284:Thapsigargin
D002021:Buffers; D002352:Carrier Proteins; D019831:Sodium-Calcium Exchanger; D013729:Terpenes; D012433:Ryanodine; D018698:Glutamic Acid; D002258:Carbonyl Cyanide m-Chlorophenyl Hydrazone; D019284:Thapsigargin; D012964:Sodium; D002118:Calcium