Astrocytic regulatory functions: A possible target for CNS effects of organic solvents

Alteration in mitochondrial function and glutamate metabolism affected by 2-chloroethanol in primary cultured astrocytes

The aim of this study was to explore the mechanisms that contribute to 1,2-dichloroethane (1,2-DCE) induced brain edema by focusing on alteration of mitochondrial function and glutamate metabolism in primary cultured astrocytes induced by 2-chloroethanol (2-CE), a metabolite of 1,2-DCE in vivo. The cells were exposed to different levels of 2-CE in the media for 24h. Mitochondrial function was evaluated by its membrane potential and intracellular contents of ATP, lactic acid and reactive oxygen species (ROS). Glutamate metabolism was indicated by expression of glutamine synthase (GS), glutamate-aspartate transporter (GLAST) and glutamate transporter-1 (GLT-1) at both protein and gene levels. Compared to the control group, exposure to 2-CE could cause a dose dependent damage in astrocytes, indicated by decreased cell viability and morphological changes, and supported by decreased levels of nonprotein sulfhydryl (NPSH) and inhibited activities of Na⁺/K⁺-ATPase and Ca²⁺-ATPase in the cells. The present study also revealed both mitochondrial function and glutamate metabolism in astrocytes were significantly disturbed by 2-CE. Of which, mitochondrial function was much vulnerable to the effects of 2-CE. In conclusion, our findings suggested that mitochondrial dysfunction and glutamate metabolism disorder could contribute to 2-CE-induced cytotoxicity in astrocytes, which might be related to 1,2-DCE-induced brain edema.

Astrocyte membrane Na+, K(+)-ATPase and Mg(2+)-ATPase as targets of organic solvent impact

Astrocytes serve to maintain the proper homeostatic environment for neurons. In these regulations, the astrocyte membrane ATPase plays an important role. In the present study, the astrocyte were cultured in the modified Minimum Essential Medium (MEM), and the isolated cell membranes were exposed to solvents at different concentrations (3, 6 and 9 mM) for one hour. The activities of the membrane-bound Na+, K(+)-ATPase and Mg(2+)-ATPase were determined after exposure to aromatic, alicyclic and aliphatic hydrocarbons. Aromatic hydrocarbons decreased the enzyme activities dose-dependently according to their lipid solubilities. The slight enzyme-inhibiting effect of aliphatic and alicyclic hydrocarbons was not dependent on the lipophilicity of these solvents. Their molecular structure may have determined the solvent impact. In the present study, the activity of ouabain sensitive Na+, K(+)-ATPase in astrocytes was only 20-15% of the total ATPase activity, and in neurons 45-55%. The enzyme inhibition caused by organic solvents may disturb the homeostatic regulatory functions of astrocytes and thus have a toxic effect on the CNS.

Sodium-dependent glutamate uptake as an activator of oxidative metabolism in primary astrocyte cultures from newborn rat

In the present report we describe the effect of glutamate on respiratory activity in primary cultures of astrocytes, derived from cerebral cortex of newborn rat. Glutamate (100 microM) caused an increased oxygen consumption. This effect could not be inhibited by antagonists to the NMDA or AMPA/kainate receptors. Neither trans-ACPD (an agonist to the metabotropic glutamate receptor) nor the Krebs cycle intermediate alpha-ketoglutarate had any effect on the respiratory rate. An uncontrolled influx of Na+, caused by gramicidin, could mimic the glutamate effect on respiratory activity. In addition, the glutamate effect was abolished by addition of ouabain or replacement of Na+ by Li+ in the perfusion buffer. We conclude that the co-transport of Na+, in the Na(+)-dependent high-affinity glutamate uptake system, mediated the glutamate-induced increase in oxygen consumption through an increased activity of Na+/K(+)-ATPases.

Use of primary cultures and continuous cell lines to study effects on astrocytic regulatory functions

1. Current opinions on the mechanisms for glutamate-mediated neurotoxicity are reviewed. The protective role of astrocytic high-affinity glutamate transport is also discussed. 2. Low-density seeding of primary astrocytes from rat hemispheres was found to result in the development of reactive-like astrocytes. Typical glial signs of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) could not be induced in astrocyte cultures by serum from ALS-patients. 3. Glutamate (100 mumol/L) was found to induce an increase in respiratory activity in primary cultures of astrocytes. This stimulation appeared to be related to the co-transport of Na2+ with glutamate and a resulting activation of Na2+/K(+)-ATPase. Both basal respiration and glutamate-stimulated oxygen consumption was inhibited by organic solvents. 4. Preliminary results show that heavy metals cause an increase in the mitochondrial DNA content at concentrations that have no effect on growth rate or morphology in a glial cell line. This increase was accompanied by an inhibition of oxygen consumption and an increased production of lactate at unaltered ATP levels.

Effects of selected organic solvents on the astrocyte membrane ATPase in vitro

1. The present study deals with astrocyte cultures as a model for studying the membrane-mediated central nervous system-depressing effect of organic solvents. 2. The primary astrocyte cultures were prepared from neonatal rat cerebella. The cells were cultured in modified essential medium. The astrocyte membranes isolated from the cultures were exposed to solvents in incubation mixture at different dose levels (3, 6 and 9 mmol/L) for 1 h. The physiologically important integral proteins Na+, K(+)-ATPase and Mg(2+)-ATPase were studied. 3. The aromatic hydrocarbons (benzene, toluene, styrene, xylene and ethylbenzene) inhibited the ATPase activities according to their lipid solubilities. n-Hexane and cyclohexane clearly had less effect than aromatic hydrocarbons, despite their greater lipid solubilities. 4. Astrocytes were shown to be sensitive targets to the effects of organic solvents, measured as the inhibition of the integral enzymes Na+, K(+)-ATPase and Mg(2+)-ATPase.

The Neurotoxicity of Organic Solvents Studied Using Synaptosomes and Neural Cell Cultures

The most common acute neurotoxic effect of organic solvents is their central nervous system (CNS) depressant effect. The molecular mechanism underlying this effect is not known. The purpose of our studies has been to evaluate the adverse effects of organic solvents on the CNS in vitro. Synaptosomal membranes, whole brain reaggregate and astrocyte cultures were studied. Our results suggest that cell membrane integral proteins are targets for solvent impact, but that there are differences among various cell types. In addition to lipophilicity, the structure of solvent molecules seems to be important when considering CNS toxicity. Organic solvents increase the fluidity of the membranes, which may disturb the lipid-protein interaction and the optimal functioning of the enzyme. However, direct effects of solvents on proteins cannot be excluded. In vitro cell models can be used in methods designed to predict acute neurotoxic effects of foreign compounds, and in studies of neurotoxic mechanisms.