title: A new specialization in astrocytes: glutamate- and ammonia-induced nuclear size changes.
abstract: We observed nuclear swelling in glutamate (Glu)-treated astrocytes that was concomitant with but independent of astrocytic cell swelling. We confirmed Glu-induced nuclear swelling with nuclei isolated from astrocytes. Ammonia is metabolically related to Glu and could induce a nuclear swelling in intact astrocytes but shrinkage in isolated nuclei. Other compounds such as glutamine, aspartate, taurine, glycine, and ATP did not cause any nuclear swelling in isolated nuclei of astrocytes. Surprisingly, Glu and ammonia did not induce nuclear swelling in microglia, C6, HEK 293, or Hep G2 cell lines in cultures and their isolated nuclei. The Glu- and ammonia-induced nuclear size changes appear to be a specific response of astrocytes to these two closely related metabolic compounds.
authors.affiliation: Neuroscience Research Institute, Key Laboratory for Neuroscience (Ministry of Education), Key Laboratory for Neuroscience (Ministry of Public Health), Department of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Health Science Center, Peking University, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Chun Zhang
authors.initials: CZ
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Hui Li
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Ye
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: Rui Chao
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Chai
authors.forename: Rui
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Yan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Dong
authors.forename: Zhen Yu
authors.initials: ZY
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Lok Ting
authors.initials: LT
authors.lastname: Lau
authors.forename: Zhang
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Yingge
authors.forename: Junlin
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Teng
authors.forename: Jianguo
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Albert Cheung Hoi
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Yu
mesh_terms: D000641:Ammonia / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D001253:Astrocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D018698:Glutamic Acid / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051379:Mice; D008813:Mice, Inbred ICR; D018625:Microscopy, Atomic Force
chemical_list: D018698:Glutamic Acid; D000641:Ammonia