title: Neuronal regulation of expression of hydrogen sulfide-producing enzyme cystathionine β-synthase in rat spinal cord astrocytes.
abstract: Cystathionine β-synthase (CBS), expressed in astrocytes, generates a gaseous neuromodulator, hydrogen sulfide (H2S) in the central nervous system (CNS). However, little is known about the regulatory mechanisms of astrocytic CBS expression and activity. This study evaluated the influence of neurons on astrocytic CBS expression by employing multiple culture systems. Substantial CBS expression was observed in the intact neonatal rat spinal cord, while CBS content was markedly reduced in an astrocyte-enriched culture prepared from the neonatal spinal cord. Immunofluorescence analysis confirmed the localization of spinal cord CBS in astrocytes, but not in neurons. Although CBS expression was weak in the embryonic rat spinal cord, enzyme levels were time-dependently increased in a neuron/astrocyte mixed culture originating from embryonic spinal cord. The reduced CBS expression in isolated neonatal astrocytes was restored by co-culture with embryonic neurons. Together with the observed CBS expression levels, H2S production was relatively low in astrocytes cultured alone, but was considerably higher in astrocytes cultured with neurons. These results indicate that neurons are essential for maintaining the expression and H2S-producing activity of astrocytic CBS in the rat spinal cord.
authors: Laboratory of Pharmacology, Graduate School of Veterinary Medicine, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan.
authors: Ryo
authors: R
authors: Miyamoto
authors: Laboratory of Pharmacology, Graduate School of Veterinary Medicine, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan. Electronic address: Otsuguro@vetmed.hokudai.ac.jp.
authors: Ken-ichi
authors: K
authors: Otsuguro
authors: Laboratory of Pharmacology, Graduate School of Veterinary Medicine, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan.
authors: Soichiro
authors: S
authors: Yamaguchi
authors: Laboratory of Pharmacology, Graduate School of Veterinary Medicine, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan.
authors: Shigeo
authors: S
authors: Ito
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D001253:Astrocytes / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000378:metabolism; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D018920:Coculture Techniques; D003541:Cystathionine beta-Synthase / Q000378:metabolism*; D006862:Hydrogen Sulfide / Q000378:metabolism; D009474:Neurons / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D003541:Cystathionine beta-Synthase; D006862:Hydrogen Sulfide
keywords: Astrocyte; Cystathionine β-synthase; Homocysteine; Hydrogen sulfide; Neuron