Free radicals enhance basal release of D-[3H]aspartate from cerebral cortical synaptosomes

Enhanced release of adenosine under cell-damaging conditions in the developing and adult mouse hippocampus

The inhibitory neuromodulator adenosine has been thought to act as an endogenous neuroprotectant against cerebral ischemia and neuronal damage. The release of preloaded [3H]adenosine from hippocampal slices from developing (7-day-old) and adult (3-month-old) mice was characterized using a superfusion system under various cell-damaging conditions, including hypoxia, hypoglycemia, ischemia, oxidative stress, and the presence of free radicals and metabolic poisons. The release of adenosine was greatly potentiated under the above conditions at both ages, with free radicals, metabolic poisons, and ischemia generally having the strongest stimulatory effects. Depolarization by K+ ions (50 mM) could then evoke more release of adenosine only in the immature hippocampus. Omission of Ca2+ from the superfusion media had no effect on the ischemia-induced release in the adults, indicating that it occurs by a Ca2+-independent system. In contrast, the release in the immature hippocampus was partially dependent on extracellular Ca2+. Furthermore, the ischemia-induced adenosine release was reduced in Na+-deficient media and enhanced by ouabain at both ages, pointing to the involvement of Na+-dependent transporters. The release was also reduced by Cl- channel blockers, thus indicating that a part of the evoked release occurs through anion channels. Another inhibitory neuromodulator and cell volume regulator, taurine, was seen to enhance adenosine release in ischemia at both ages. The simultaneous release of taurine and adenosine under cell-damaging conditions could constitute an important protective mechanism against excessive amounts of excitatory amino acids, counteracting their harmful effects and preventing excitation from reaching neurotoxic levels.

Mechanisms of L-cysteine neurotoxicity

We review here the possible mechanisms of neuronal degeneration caused by L-cysteine, an odd excitotoxin. L-Cysteine lacks the omega carboxyl group required for excitotoxic actions via excitatory amino acid receptors, yet it evokes N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) -like excitotoxic neuronal death and potentiates the Ca2+ influx evoked by NMDA. Both actions are prevented by NMDA antagonists. One target for cysteine effects is thus the NMDA receptor. The following mechanisms are discussed now: (1) possible increase in extracellular glutamate via release or inhibition of uptake/degradation, (2) generation of cysteine alpha-carbamate, a toxic analog of NMDA, (3) generation of toxic oxidized cysteine derivatives, (4) chelation of Zn2+ which blocks the NMDA receptor-ionophore, (5) direct interaction with the NMDA receptor redox site(s), (6) generation of free radicals, and (7) formation of S-nitrosocysteine. In addition to these, we describe another new alternative for cytotoxicity: (8) generation of the neurotoxic catecholamine derivative, 5-S-cysteinyl-3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetate (cysdopac).

Optical imaging reveals elevated intracellular chloride in hippocampal pyramidal neurons after oxidative stress

The accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the brain is associated with several neurodegenerative conditions. ROS can affect ionic homeostasis leading to impaired neurotransmission. Here, we determined the ability of H(2)O(2), a membrane permeant ROS, to alter intraneuronal Cl(-), an important regulator of neuronal excitability. Real-time alterations in intracellular chloride, [Cl(-)]i, were measured with UV laser scanning confocal microscopy in hippocampal slices loaded with the cell-permeant form of 6-methoxy-N-ethylquinolium iodide (MEQ), a Cl(-)-sensitive fluorescent probe. In slices superfused with H(2)O(2) for 10 min, there was a significant decrease in MEQ fluorescence (elevation in [Cl(-)]i) in area CA1 pyramidal cell soma but not in interneurons located in stratum radiatum. Alterations in [Cl(-)]i induced by H(2)O(2) were prevented by the iron chelator deferoxamine and the vitamin E analog Trolox, suggesting the involvement of free radicals. The influx of Cl(-) probably occurred through the GABA-gated Cl(-) channel because the effects of H(2)O(2) were blocked by picrotoxin. In addition, HPLC analysis of the superfusates indicated that GABA and glutamate accumulated extracellularly after H(2)O(2) exposure. Excitatory amino acid receptor antagonists 2-amino-5-phoshopentanoic acid and 1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-6-nitro-2, 3-dioxo-benzo[f]quinoxaline-7-sulfonamide also attenuated the effect of H(2)O(2) on MEQ fluorescence. The changes in [Cl(-)]i induced by H(2)O(2) were Ca(2+)-dependent and Na(+)-independent. After exposure of slices to H(2)O(2), the ability of the GABA agonist muscimol to increase [Cl(-)]i was attenuated. Thus, ROS, like H(2)O(2), may impair transmembrane Cl(-) gradients and reduce inhibitory neurotransmission, further promoting neuronal damage in oxidative stress-related disease and in aging.

Mechanisms of D-aspartate release under ischemic conditions in mouse hippocampal slices

The release of preloaded D-[3H]aspartate, an unmetabolizable analogue of L-glutamate, was studied in superfused hippocampal slices from 7-day-old and 3-month-old (adult) mice under various cell-damaging conditions, including hypoxia, hypoglycemia, ischemia, oxidative stress and the presence of free radicals and metabolic poisons. The release was generally markedly enhanced in most of the above conditions, the responses being greater in adults than in developing mice. The presence of dinitrophenol had the most pronounced effect at both ages, followed by NaCN- and free-radical-containing media and ischemia. Hypoxia did not affect release in the immature hippocampus. Under most conditions K+ stimulation (50 mM) was still able markedly to enhance D-aspartate release. This potentiation under cell-damaging conditions in both adult and developing hippocampus signifies that increased L-glutamate release contributes to excitotoxicity and subsequent cell death. The mechanisms of ischemia-induced release of D-aspartate were analyzed in the adult hippocampus using ion channel inhibitors and modified superfusion media. The induced release proved to be partly Ca(2+)-dependent and partly Ca(2+)-independent. The results obtained with Na+ omission and homo- and heteroexchange with D-aspartate and L-glutamate demonstrated that a part of the release in normoxia and ischemia is mediated by the reversal of Na(+)-dependent glutamate transporters. The Na+ channel blockers amiloride and riluzole reduced the ischemia-induced release, also indicating the involvement of Na+ channels. In addition to this, the enhanced release of D-aspartate may comprise a swelling-induced component through chloride channels.

Beta-alanine release from the adult and developing hippocampus is enhanced by ionotropic glutamate receptor agonists and cell-damaging conditions

The release of the inhibitory amino acid beta-alanine was investigated in hippocampal slices from adult (3-month-old) and developing (7-day-old) mice, using a superfusion system. The release was enhanced by beta-alanine itself and the structural analogs taurine and y-aminobutyrate. It was dependent on Na+, but independent of Ca2+ in both mature and immature hippocampus, being thus mostly mediated by uptake carriers operating in an outward direction. The release was potentiated in the developing mice, but not affected in the adults, by the ionotropic glutamate receptor agonists N-methyl-D-aspartate, kainate, 2-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionate and tetrazolylglycine in a receptor-mediated manner. Cell-damaging conditions, including hypoxia, hypoglycemia, ischemia, oxidative stress and the presence of free radicals, greatly enhanced beta-alanine release at both ages, but more markedly in the adults. The great amounts of beta-alanine, together with the inhibitory amino acids taurine and gamma-aminobutyrate, released simultaneously with the excitatory amino acids in the hippocampus may constitute an important protective mechanism against excitotoxicity, which leads to neuronal death.

Release of endogenous glutamate, aspartate, GABA, and taurine from hippocampal slices from adult and developing mice under cell-damaging conditions

The releases of endogenous glutamate, aspartate, GABA and taurine from hippocampal slices from 7-day-, 3-, 12-, and 18-month-old mice were investigated under cell-damaging conditions using a superfusion system. The slices were superfused under hypoxic conditions in the presence and absence of glucose and exposed to hydrogen peroxide. In the adult hippocampus under normal conditions the basal release of taurine was highest, with a response only about 2-fold to potassium stimulation (50 mM). The low basal releases of glutamate, aspartate, and GABA were markedly potentiated by K+ ions. In general, the release of the four amino acids was enhanced under all above cell-damaging conditions. In hypoxia and ischemia (i.e., hypoxia in the absence of glucose) the release of glutamate, aspartate and GABA increased relatively more than that of taurine, and membrane depolarization by K+ markedly potentiated the release processes. Taurine release was doubled in hypoxia and tripled in ischemia but K+ stimulation was abolished. In both the mature and immature hippocampus the release of glutamate and aspartate was greatly enhanced in the presence of H2O2, that of aspartate particularly in developing mice. In the immature hippocampus the increase in taurine release was 10-fold in hypoxia and 30-fold in ischemia, and potassium stimulation was partly preserved. The release processes of the four amino acids in ischemia were all partially Ca2+-dependent. High concentrations of excitatory amino acids released under cell-damaging conditions are neurotoxic and contribute to neuronal death during ischemia. The substantial amounts of the inhibitory amino acids GABA and taurine released simultaneously may constitute an important protective mechanism against excitatory amino acids in excess, counteracting their harmful effects. In the immature hippocampus in particular, the massive release of taurine under cell-damaging conditions may have a significant function in protecting neural cells and aiding in preserving their viability.

Free radicals and the ischemia-evoked extracellular accumulation of amino acids in rat cerebral cortex

The effects of free radical generating systems on basal and ischemia/reperfusion-evoked release of amino acids into cortical superfusates was examined in the rat using the cortical cup technique. Xanthine oxidase plus xanthine significantly enhanced GABA levels 358 fold over controls during 20 min of four vessel occlusion. Glutamate and phosphoethanolamine release following reperfusion were also elevated. Prostaglandin synthase plus arachidonic acid significantly enhanced the ischemia-evoked release of all amino acids (aspartate 360 fold; glutamate 433 fold; glycine 6 fold; GABA 689 fold; phosphoethanolamine 69 fold) and increased the pre-ischemic levels of glutamate, glycine and phosphoethanolamine. Administration of H2O2 plus ferrous sulfate significantly elevated both pre-ischemic amino acid release and ischemia-evoked release. A role for free radical generating systems in the development of ischemic injury is supported by the ability of superoxide dismutase plus catalase to reduce ischemia-evoked amino acid efflux into cortical superfusates. Thus, the species of free radical produced, as well as the amount generated, may after the pattern of amino acid release under both ischemic and non-ischemic conditions.

Differences in the release of L-glutamate and D-aspartate from primary neuronal chick cultures

Primary neuronal cultures were made from eight-day-old embryonic chick telencephalon. Ten-day-old cultures were used to study the release of D-[3H]aspartate and L-[3H]glutamate. The D[3H]aspartate release was stimulated by increasing potassium concentrations, but it was not calcium dependent. In contrast, the potassium dependent L-[3H]glutamate release was calcium dependent, and furthermore L-[3H]glutamate release was optimal at potassium concentrations < 30 mM. The inhibitors of glutamate uptake, dihydrokainate and 1-aminocyclobutane-trans-1,3-dicarboxylic acid (CACB), also referred to as cis-1 -aminocyclobutane-1,3-dicarboxylate, were used in the release experiments. Dihydrokainate had no effect on aspartate release, whereas CACB increased both the basal efflux of D-[3H]aspartate and the potassium evoked release. CACB had no effect on the potassium stimulated L-glutamate release. We believe that L-glutamate is released mainly by a vesicular mechanism from the presumably glutamatergic neurons present in our culture. D-aspartate release observed by us, could be mediated by a transporter protein. The cellular origin of this release remains to be assessed.