title: Aspirin increases NMDA receptor subunit 2A concentrations in rat hippocampus.
abstract: The N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor (NMDAR), a heteromeric protein, is a glutamate receptor that has three classes of subunits: NR1, NR2, and NR3. It has been reported that these receptors are involved in synaptogenesis, synaptic plasticity, and many other processes in the central nervous system. The aim of this study is to investigate the efficacy of aspirin on hippocampal NMDARs. Sixteen rats were studied in two groups, with eight animals in each group. The first group was the control group, and the second one was the aspirin-given group. Aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid) was administered orally to the rats (200 mg/kg). Tissue samples were obtained after 3 h. The brain was removed, and both hippocampi were dissected out for evaluation. It was found that acute doses of aspirin caused increases on the levels of NMDAR 2A (NR2A) receptors and malondialdehyde (MDA), the end product of lipid peroxidation. Production was significantly increased in the aspirin-given group. We know that MDA is a marker for free radical-mediated tissue damage. In conclusion, lipid peroxidation, caused by acute doses of aspirin may lead to excitotoxicity effects by a hippocampal NR2A-mediated mechanism.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Suleyman Demirel University School of Medicine, Isparta, Turkey. drnilgunsenol@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Nilgun
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Senol
authors.forename: Betul Mermi
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Ceyhan
authors.forename: Ismail Hakki
authors.initials: IH
authors.lastname: Ersoy
authors.forename: Altug
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Senol
authors.forename: Gursel
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Acarturk
authors.forename: Recep
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sutcu
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001241:Aspirin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation / Q000187:drug effects*; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D017470:Receptors, Glutamate / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D016194:Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D001241:Aspirin; D017470:Receptors, Glutamate; D016194:Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate