title: Repetitive spreading depression induces nestin protein expression in the cortex of rats and mice. Is this upregulation initiated by N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors?
abstract: In the November issue (2001) of Neuroscience Letters, Holmin et al. (Neurosci. Lett. 314 (2001) 151) reported that the synthesis of the intermediate filament protein nestin was upregulated by potassium-induced depolarization in the rat cortex. In this letter, we provide supplementary evidence that repeated cortical spreading depression elicited by potassium induces a delayed upregulation of nestin. However, we argue against the authors' conclusion, "Nestin expression was N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA)-receptor dependent since dizocilpine (MK-801) treatment abolished the response" because spreading depression itself is very sensitive to NMDA-receptor block, and the drug treatment was initiated prior to potassium application to the cortex in Holmin et al.'s study.
authors.affiliation: Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, University of Bradford, Bradford BD7 1DP, UK. t.obrenovitch@bradford.ac.uk
authors.forename: Tihomir Paul
authors.initials: TP
authors.lastname: Obrenovitch
authors.forename: Oleg Viktorovich
authors.initials: OV
authors.lastname: Godukhin
authors.forename: Paul Louis
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Chazot
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001253:Astrocytes / Q000378:metabolism; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects / 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; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007381:Intermediate Filament Proteins / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D019194:Ischemic Preconditioning; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D064231:Nestin; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D011189:Potassium Chloride / Q000494:pharmacology; D051381:Rats; D016194:Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism*; D009435:Synaptic Transmission / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D015854:Up-Regulation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D018691:Excitatory Amino Acid Antagonists; D007381:Intermediate Filament Proteins; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; C577485:Nes protein, mouse; C577486:Nes protein, rat; D064231:Nestin; D016194:Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate; D011189:Potassium Chloride