title: Mitochondrial impairment induces excitotoxic death in cerebellar granule cells.
abstract: A close relationship links mitochondria to cell death with mitochondrial function-impairment considered a major biochemical event in the process of both apoptosis and necrosis. We have used different inhibitors of oxidative phosphorylation, i.e. mitochondrial respiratory chain and ATP synthesis inhibitors, and an uncoupler to investigate the mode of cell death caused by these compounds in cerebellar granule cells. This study shows that in cultured cerebellar granule cells either oxidative phosphorylation inhibitors or uncoupler induce an excitotoxic-like reaction which is mediated by activation of NMDA receptors and is likely due to the release of glutamate. Consistently, survival may occur if the toxic action of glutamate is prevented.
authors.affiliation: Istituto di Biomembrane e Bioenergetica, CNR, I-70126 Bari, Italy. csmmab03@area.ba.cnr.it
authors.forename: Antonella
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bobba
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Atlante
authors.forename: Amalia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Azzariti
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Sgaramella
authors.forename: Pietro
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Calissano
authors.forename: Ersilia
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Marra
mesh_terms: D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D016923:Cell Death / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002531:Cerebellum / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D010085:Oxidative Phosphorylation; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D016194:Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D016194:Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate; D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate