title: Changes of neuronal calcium channel following brain damage induced by injection of pertussis bacilli in rats.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To explore changes of neuronal calcium channel following brain damage induced by injection of pertussis bacilli in rats, and to investigate the relationship between cytosolic free calcium concentration ([Ca(2+)](i)) in the synaptosome and Ca(2+)-ATPase activities of mitochondria.
  
  
  METHODS
  The level of [Ca(2+)](i) in the synaptosome and Ca(2+)-ATPase activities of mitochondria in the acute brain damage induced by injection of pertussis bacilli (PB) in rat was determined and nimodipine was administrated to show its effects on [Ca(2+)](i) in the synaptosome and on alteration of Ca(2+)-ATPase activity in the mitochondria. Seventy-three rats were randomly divided into four groups, ie, normal control group (Group A), sham-operation control group (Group B), PB group (Group C) and nimodipine treatment group (Group D).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The level of [Ca(2+)](i) was significantly increased in the PB-injected cerebral hemisphere in the Group C as compared with that in the Group A and the Group B at 30 minutes after injection of PB. The level of [Ca(2+)](i) was kept higher in the 4 hours and 24 hours subgroups after the injection in the Group C (P<0.05). In contrast, the Ca(2+)-ATPase activities were decreased remarkably among all of the subgroups in the Group C. Nimodipine, which was administered after injection of PB, could significantly decrease the [Ca(2+)](i) and increase the activity of Ca(2+)-ATPase (P<0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The neuronal calcium channel is opened after injection of PB. There is a negative correlation between activities of Ca(2+)-ATPase and [Ca(2+)](i). Nimodipine can reduce brain damage through stimulating the activities of Ca(2+)-ATPase in the mitochondria, and decrease the level of [Ca(2+)](i) in the synaptosome. Treatment with nimodipine dramatically reduces the effects of brain damage induced by injection of PB.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410008, China.
authors.forename: Lihua
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Yujia
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Lixu
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Meihong
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cao
mesh_terms: D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D001886:Bordetella pertussis; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000378:metabolism*; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism*; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers / Q000494:pharmacology; D000252:Calcium-Transporting ATPases / Q000378:metabolism*; D003600:Cytosol / Q000378:metabolism; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000201:enzymology; D009553:Nimodipine / Q000494:pharmacology; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013574:Synaptosomes / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers; D009553:Nimodipine; D000252:Calcium-Transporting ATPases; D002118:Calcium