Repetitive spreading depression induces nestin protein expression in the cortex of rats and mice. Is this upregulation initiated by N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors?

Neurosci Lett. 2002 Mar 8;320(3):161-3. doi: 10.1016/s0304-3940(02)00046-0.

Abstract

In the November issue (2001) of Neuroscience Letters, Holmin et al. (Neurosci. Lett. 314 (2001) 151) reported that the synthesis of the intermediate filament protein nestin was upregulated by potassium-induced depolarization in the rat cortex. In this letter, we provide supplementary evidence that repeated cortical spreading depression elicited by potassium induces a delayed upregulation of nestin. However, we argue against the authors' conclusion, "Nestin expression was N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA)-receptor dependent since dizocilpine (MK-801) treatment abolished the response" because spreading depression itself is very sensitive to NMDA-receptor block, and the drug treatment was initiated prior to potassium application to the cortex in Holmin et al.'s study.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Astrocytes / metabolism
  • Brain Injuries / metabolism
  • Brain Injuries / physiopathology
  • Cell Survival / drug effects
  • Cell Survival / physiology
  • Cerebral Cortex / cytology
  • Cerebral Cortex / drug effects
  • Cerebral Cortex / metabolism*
  • Cortical Spreading Depression / drug effects
  • Cortical Spreading Depression / physiology*
  • Excitatory Amino Acid Antagonists / pharmacology
  • Gene Expression Regulation / drug effects
  • Gene Expression Regulation / physiology
  • Immunohistochemistry
  • Intermediate Filament Proteins / drug effects
  • Intermediate Filament Proteins / metabolism*
  • Ischemic Preconditioning
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins*
  • Nestin
  • Neurons / cytology
  • Neurons / drug effects
  • Neurons / metabolism*
  • Potassium Chloride / pharmacology
  • Rats
  • Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate / metabolism*
  • Synaptic Transmission / drug effects
  • Synaptic Transmission / physiology*
  • Up-Regulation / drug effects
  • Up-Regulation / physiology*

Substances

  • Excitatory Amino Acid Antagonists
  • Intermediate Filament Proteins
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins
  • Nes protein, mouse
  • Nes protein, rat
  • Nestin
  • Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate
  • Potassium Chloride