Differential spread of anoxic depolarization contributes to the pattern of neuronal injury after oxygen and glucose deprivation (OGD) in the Substantia Nigra in rat brain slices.
Anoxic depolarization (AD) is an acute event evoked by brain ischemia, involving a profound loss of cell membrane potential and swelling that spreads over susceptible parts of the gray matter. Its occurrence is a strong predictor of the severity of neuronal injury. Little is known about this event in the Substantia Nigra, a midbrain nucleus critical for motor control. We tested the effects of oxygen and glucose deprivation (OGD), an in vitro model of brain ischemia, in rat midbrain slices. AD developed within 4min from OGD onset and spread in the Substantia Nigra pars reticulata (SNr), but not through the Substantia Nigra pars compacta (SNc). This differential effect involved a contrasting pattern of changes in membrane potential between dopamine-producing SNc and non-dopaminergic SNr neurons. A fast depolarization in SNr neurons was not followed by repolarization after the end of OGD, and was associated with swollen somata and beaded dendrites. In contrast, slowly developing depolarization of SNc neurons led to repolarization after OGD ended, and no changes in neuronal morphology were observed. The AD-resistance of the SNc involved smaller dysregulations of K+and Ca2+ions, and a slower loss of energy metabolites. Our results show that acute ischemia profoundly impairs the function and morphology of SNr neurons but not adjacent SNc neurons, and that the surprising higher tolerance of SNc neurons correlates with the resistance of the SNc region to AD. This differential response may affect the pattern of early neuronal injury that develops in the brainstem after acute ischemic insults.
Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Auckland, 85 Park Road, Auckland 1023, New Zealand.
Rashika N
RN
Karunasinghe
Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Auckland, 85 Park Road, Auckland 1023, New Zealand.
Angus C
AC
Grey
Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Auckland, 85 Park Road, Auckland 1023, New Zealand.
Ravindra
R
Telang
Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Auckland, 85 Park Road, Auckland 1023, New Zealand.
Srdjan M
SM
Vlajkovic
Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Auckland, 85 Park Road, Auckland 1023, New Zealand. Electronic address: j.lipski@auckland.ac.nz.
Janusz
J
Lipski
D000818:Animals; D002545:Brain Ischemia / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism; D002412:Cations / Q000378:metabolism; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000502:physiology; D004298:Dopamine / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D005947:Glucose / Q000172:deficiency; D008297:Male; D008564:Membrane Potentials / Q000502:physiology; D009474:Neurons / Q000473:pathology / Q000502:physiology*; D010100:Oxygen / Q000378:metabolism; D065842:Pars Compacta / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011188:Potassium / Q000378:metabolism; D015221:Potassium Channels / Q000378:metabolism; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013378:Substantia Nigra / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D046509:Tissue Culture Techniques
D002412:Cations; D015221:Potassium Channels; D005947:Glucose; D011188:Potassium; D010100:Oxygen; D002118:Calcium; D004298:Dopamine
brain slice; electrophysiology; energy metabolites; imaging; ischemic brain injury; midbrain dopaminergic neurons