title: The effect of hypocapnia (PaCO2 27 mmHg) on CaM kinase IV activity, Bax/Bcl-2 protein expression and DNA fragmentation in the cerebral cortex of newborn piglets.
abstract: The present study tests the hypothesis that a PaCO(2) of 27 mmHg for 1 hr results in increased neuronal nuclear Ca(++)/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase IV (CaM kinase IV) activity, pro-apoptotic protein expression and DNA fragmentation in the cerebral cortex of newborn piglets. Hypocapnic (HC) and normocapnic newborn piglets were studied. Tissue levels of ATP and phosphocreatine (PCr) were lower in the HC group. CaM kinase IV activity and Bax protein density were higher in the HC group. Bcl-2 protein density was the same in both groups, resulting in an increased ratio of Bax/Bcl-2 in the HC group. Density of nuclear DNA fragments was greater in the HC group and varied inversely with ATP and PCr levels. We conclude that hypocapnia (PaCO(2) 27 mmHg) results in increased expression of pro-apoptotic proteins and fragmentation of nuclear DNA in newborn piglets.
authors: Department of Pediatrics, Drexel University College of Medicine, St. Christopher's Hospital for Children, Neonatology Research Laboratories, Medical College of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19129, USA. karen.i.fritz@drexel.edu
authors: Karen I
authors: KI
authors: Fritz
authors: Alan B
authors: AB
authors: Zubrow
authors: Qazi M
authors: QM
authors: Ashraf
authors: Om P
authors: OP
authors: Mishra
authors: Maria
authors: M
authors: Delivoria-Papadopoulos
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D054734:Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinase Type 4; D017871:Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinases / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000378:metabolism*; D053938:DNA Fragmentation / Q000502:physiology*; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000502:physiology; D016857:Hypocapnia / Q000378:metabolism*; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D013552:Swine; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein
chemical_list: D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein; D054734:Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinase Type 4; D017871:Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinases