Sex-specific expression of N-methyl D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) in the preoptic area of neonatal rats.
The relationship between the N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) and the sex-specific neurotoxicity of L-glutamate on the preoptic area (POA) of neonatal rats was studied. The NMDAR were semiquantified by western blot analysis. The kinetic change of intracellular calcium and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) efflux were monitored as rapid and delayed toxic signals, respectively. The results showed that: (1) the NMDAR expression in POA of male rat is higher than that of females; (2) the L-glutamate (500 microM) induced a more significant elevation of intracellular calcium in neuron derived from male rat than that from female; (3) after glutamate-treatment, the LDH efflux in neuronal culture of male rat is higher than that of females. These results suggest that the quantitative difference in NMDAR between male and female rats may contribute to the sex-specific neurotoxicity of L-glutamate on the POA of neonatal rats.
Hsu
C
C
Department of Physiology, Kaohsiung Medical College, Taiwan. m685003@cc.kmc.edu.tw
Hsieh
Y L
YL
Lue
S I
SI
Hsu
H K
HK
D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D015153:Blotting, Western; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D005260:Female; D018698:Glutamic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000633:toxicity*; D007770:L-Lactate Dehydrogenase / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D011301:Preoptic Area / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D020318:Rats, Long-Evans; D016194:Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate / Q000378:metabolism*; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D013997:Time Factors
D016194:Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate; D018698:Glutamic Acid; D007770:L-Lactate Dehydrogenase; D002118:Calcium