title: Alterations in calcium-mediated signal transduction after traumatic injury of cortical neurons.
abstract: Calcium influx and elevation of intracellular free calcium ([Ca2+]i), with subsequent activation of degradative enzymes, is hypothesized to cause cell injury and death after traumatic brain injury. We examined the effects of mild-to-severe stretch-induced traumatic injury on [Ca2+]i dynamics in cortical neurons cultured on silastic membranes. [Ca2+]i was rapidly elevated after injury, however, the increase was transient with neuronal [Ca2+]i returning to basal levels by 3 h after injury, except in the most severely injured cells. Despite a return of [Ca2+]i to basal levels, there were persistent alterations in calcium-mediated signal transduction through 24 h after injury. [Ca2+]i elevation in response to glutamate or NMDA was enhanced after injury. We also found novel alterations in intracellular calcium store-mediated signaling. Neuronal calcium stores failed to respond to a stimulus 15 min after injury and exhibited potentiated responses to stimuli at 3 and 24 h post-injury. Thus, changes in calcium-mediated cellular signaling may contribute to the pathology that is observed after traumatic brain injury.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Medical College of Virginia of Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, USA.
authors.forename: J T
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Weber
authors.forename: B A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Rzigalinski
authors.forename: K A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Willoughby
authors.forename: S F
authors.initials: SF
authors.lastname: Moore
authors.forename: E F
authors.initials: EF
authors.lastname: Ellis
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000378:metabolism*; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism; D020013:Calcium Signaling; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000166:cytology / Q000293:injuries* / Q000378:metabolism*; D003515:Cycloleucine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000494:pharmacology; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D018690:Excitatory Amino Acid Agonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D018698:Glutamic Acid / Q000378:metabolism; D016202:N-Methylaspartate / Q000494:pharmacology; D009457:Neuroglia / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D019284:Thapsigargin / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D018690:Excitatory Amino Acid Agonists; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D003515:Cycloleucine; C036361:1-amino-1,3-dicarboxycyclopentane; D018698:Glutamic Acid; D016202:N-Methylaspartate; D019284:Thapsigargin; D002118:Calcium