title: Neuroprotection associated with alternative splicing of NMDA receptors in rat cortical neurons.
abstract: Exposure of cultured cortical neurons to elevated extracellular K(+) concentrations (25 mM) induces membrane depolarization and an increase in action-potential firing. Long-term high K(+) treatment was associated with an increased neuronal cell death. In surviving neurons, multiple changes occurred in the proportion of individual NMDA receptor subunit 1 (NR1) splice variant mRNA expression, whereas the overall expression of NR1, NR2A and NR2B transcripts remained unaffected. The high K(+)-induced changes in NR1 splice variant expression were virtually abolished upon a concurrent administration of tetrodotoxin (TTX; 3 microM). In voltage-clamp recordings performed on neurons resistant to high K(+) treatment, inward currents induced by NMDA (1-1,000 microM) were reduced. In K(+)-resistant cells, the activity of calpain but not of caspase-3 was diminished compared with controls kept in regular medium. NR function as well as calpain activity was not affected in cultures concomitantly treated with high K(+) and either TTX or a NR antagonist (CGS19755 (selfotel) or memantine). In conclusion, the present data indicate adaptive changes in NR1 splice variant expression and a decrease in NR function upon a sustained increase in neurotransmission. Accordingly, alternative splicing could be an endogenous mechanism to counteract cellular damage due to overactivation of excitatory NRs and may be associated with an impairment of necrotic mechanisms.
authors.affiliation: Rudolf-Boehm-Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Leipzig, Härtelstrabe 16-18, D-04107 Leipzig, Germany.
authors.forename: Beate
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Jaekel
authors.forename: Katja
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Mühlberg
authors.forename: Susana
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Garcia de Arriba
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Reichenbach
authors.forename: Ester
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Verdaguer
authors.forename: Mercè
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pallas
authors.forename: Antoni
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Camins
authors.forename: Wolfgang
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Nörenberg
authors.forename: Clemens
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Allgaier
mesh_terms: D000200:Action Potentials; D017398:Alternative Splicing; D000818:Animals; D002154:Calpain / Q000378:metabolism; D002470:Cell Survival; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000187:drug effects / Q000196:embryology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D010875:Pipecolic Acids / Q000494:pharmacology; D011188:Potassium / Q000633:toxicity; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D016194:Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D013049:Spectrin / Q000378:metabolism; D013779:Tetrodotoxin / Q000494:pharmacology; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: C473649:NR1A NMDA receptor, rat; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D010875:Pipecolic Acids; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D016194:Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate; D013049:Spectrin; D013779:Tetrodotoxin; C053672:selfotel; D002154:Calpain; D011188:Potassium