Changes in glutamate/aspartate transporter (GLAST/GluT-1) mRNA expression following facial nerve transection.
Expression of glutamate/aspartate transporter (GLAST/GluT-1) was investigated in the axotomized facial nucleus by in-situ hybridization. Hybridization signals for GLAST mRNA were almost undetectable in the facial nucleus of sham-operated animals. However, the hybridization signals were seen from 3 days after facial nerve transection onward in the nucleus of the affected side. These signals lasted at least 5 weeks. Microautoradiograms showed that small non-neuronal cells in the ipsilateral facial nucleus expressed signals of GLAST mRNA after axotomy. These findings suggest that non-neuronal cells, presumably astrocytes, may protect axotomized motor neurons against glutamate toxicity via up-regulation of GLAST in the facial nucleus.
Yamashita
T
T
Department of Neurosurgery, Osaka University School of Medicine, Japan.
Kohmura
E
E
Yuguchi
T
T
Shimada
S
S
Tanaka
K
K
Hayakawa
T
T
Tohyama
M
M
D027322:Amino Acid Transport System X-AG; D000818:Animals; D001369:Axons / Q000502:physiology*; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D005154:Facial Nerve / Q000502:physiology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D051272:Glucose Transporter Type 1; D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000235:genetics*; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D008297:Male; D009004:Monosaccharide Transport Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D009046:Motor Neurons / Q000648:ultrastructure; D009416:Nerve Regeneration / Q000502:physiology*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar
D027322:Amino Acid Transport System X-AG; D002352:Carrier Proteins; D051272:Glucose Transporter Type 1; D006023:Glycoproteins; D009004:Monosaccharide Transport Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger