Neuronal ageing in long-term cultures: alterations of Ca2+ homeostasis.
Deficiencies of Ca2+ homeostasis are proposed to play an important role in neuronal ageing and/or neurodegeneration. The aim of this study was to investigate, in a defined neuronal population, primary cerebellar granule neuron culture, the time-dependent changes in Ca2+ homeostasis and compare them with data obtained in cerebellar brain slices from aged rats. In neurons aged in culture (DIV 23), a small decrease in the resting [Ca2+]i was associated with a decrease in the maximal rate of [Ca2+]i increase upon KCl-induced depolarization and in the amplitude of the [Ca2+]i response, when compared with mature neurons (DIV 9). The most significant change of [Ca2+]i signal parameters was a 50% decrease in the rate of [Ca2+]i recovery after the stimulation. These results were similar to those obtained in aged brain slices, and indicate that primary neuronal cultures could serve as a model for studying the age-related changes in Ca2+ homeostasis.
Toescu
E C
EC
Department of Physiology, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, UK.
Verkhratsky
A
A
D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D000818:Animals; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002531:Cerebellum / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D006706:Homeostasis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D011189:Potassium Chloride / Q000494:pharmacology; D051381:Rats
D011189:Potassium Chloride; D002118:Calcium