Induction of astrocytic nestin expression by depolarization in rats.
Nestin is expressed in central nervous system (CNS) progenitor cells and its expression in mature cells represents transition to a less differentiated cellular state under cellular stress. This study was performed to corroborate the hypothesis that nestin synthesis is induced by depolarization and dependent on N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA)-receptor activation. Depolarization was induced with application of potassium chloride on the exposed rat cortex and nestin expression was evaluated by immunohistochemistry. Depolarization induced astrocytic nestin expression that was local, or evident in the entire ipsilateral cortex depending on the time of exposure. Nestin expression was NMDA-receptor-dependent since MK-801 treatment abolished the response. Understanding the mechanisms for nestin expression is important since this protein is expressed in reactive and less differentiated CNS cell states and also in neural stem cells. Insights into the control of nestin expression may also provide means for controlling differentiation of CNS cells either post-trauma/ischemia or in transplantation strategies.
Holmin
S
S
Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Section for Neurosurgery, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden. staffan.holmin@ks.se
von Gertten
C
C
Sandberg-Nordqvist
A C
AC
Lendahl
U
U
Mathiesen
T
T
D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D001253:Astrocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D002545:Brain Ischemia / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000502:physiology*; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D013181:Cortical Spreading Depression / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D018691:Excitatory Amino Acid Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D020287:In Situ Nick-End Labeling; D007381:Intermediate Filament Proteins / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008564:Membrane Potentials / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D009410:Nerve Degeneration / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D064231:Nestin; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D011189:Potassium Chloride / Q000494:pharmacology; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D016194:Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*
D018691:Excitatory Amino Acid Antagonists; D007381:Intermediate Filament Proteins; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; C577486:Nes protein, rat; D064231:Nestin; D016194:Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate; D011189:Potassium Chloride