Astrocyte maturation and susceptibility to ischaemia or substrate deprivation

AD-16 Protects Against Hypoxic-Ischemic Brain Injury by Inhibiting Neuroinflammation

Neuroinflammation is a key contributor to the pathogenic cascades induced by hypoxic-ischemic (HI) insult in the neonatal brain. AD-16 is a novel anti-inflammatory compound, recently found to exert potent inhibition of the lipopolysaccharide-induced production of pro-inflammatory and neurotoxic mediators. In this study, we evaluated the effect of AD-16 on primary astrocytes and neurons under oxygen-glucose deprivation (OGD) in vitro and in mice with neonatal HI brain injury in vivo. We demonstrated that AD-16 protected against OGD-induced astrocytic and neuronal cell injury. Single dose post-treatment with AD-16 (1 mg/kg) improved the neurobehavioral outcome and reduced the infarct volume with a therapeutic window of up to 6 h. Chronic administration reduced the mortality rate and preserved whole-brain morphology following neonatal HI. The in vitro and in vivo effects suggest that AD-16 offers promising therapeutic efficacy in attenuating the progression of HI brain injury and protecting against the associated mortality and morbidity.

Intervention timing and effect of PJ34 on astrocytes during oxygen-glucose deprivation/reperfusion and cell death pathways

Poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase-1 (PARP-1) plays as a double edged sword in cerebral ischemia-reperfusion, hinging on its effect on the intracellular energy storage and injury severity, and the prognosis has relationship with intervention timing. During ischemia injury, apoptosis and oncosis are the two main cell death pathway sin the ischemic core. The participation of astrocytes in ischemia-reperfusion induced cell death has triggered more and more attention. Here, we examined the protective effects and intervention timing of the PARP-1 inhibitor PJ34, by using a mixed oxygen-glucose deprivation/reperfusion (OGDR) model of primary rat astrocytes in vitro, which could mimic the ischemia-reperfusion damage in the "ischemic core". Meanwhile, cell death pathways of various PJ34 treated astrocytes were also investigated. Our results showed that PJ34 incubation (10 μmol/L) did not affect release of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) from astrocytes and cell viability or survival 1 h after OGDR. Interestingly, after 3 or 5 h OGDR, PJ34 significantly reduced LDH release and percentage of PI-positive cells and increased cell viability, and simultaneously increased the caspase-dependent apoptotic rate. The intervention timing study demonstrated that an earlier and longer PJ34 intervention during reperfusion was associated with more apparent protective effects. In conclusion, earlier and longer PJ34 intervention provides remarkable protective effects for astrocytes in the "ischaemic core" mainly by reducing oncosis of the astrocytes, especially following serious OGDR damage.

Beneficial effects of deferoxamine against astrocyte death induced by modified oxygen glucose deprivation

The iron chelator deferoxamine (DFX) is efficacious in ameliorating hypoxic-ischemic brain injury. However, the effect of DFX worked in the ischemic and the mechanism is still unclear. Recent studies have shown that apoptosis and oncosis may be the pathways of cell death accountable for astrocytic death in the ischemic core. The effect of DFX on primary cultures of rat astrocytes later subjected to modified oxygen and glucose deprivation (OGD), which can mimic the circumstances in the ischemic core, was evaluated in this study. DFX pretreatment significantly suppressed cell death and ameliorated the cellular swelling of astrocytes in the ischemic core, especially after 3h of OGD. The release of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) were reduced by DFX pretreatment. DFX reduced the expression level of active caspase-3 and increased the expression level of HIF-1α in astrocytes induced by 3h of OGD, but had no effect on aquaporin-4 (AQP4) expression. We conclude that DFX suppresses both apoptosis and oncosis in astrocytes in an in vitro model of the ischemic core.

Cell death pathways in astrocytes with a modified model of oxygen-glucose deprivation

Traditional oxygen-glucose deprivation (OGD) models do not produce sufficiently stable and continuous deprivation to induce cell death in the ischemic core. Therefore, we modified the OGD model to mimic the observed damage in the ischemic core following stroke and utilized this new model to study cell death pathways in astrocytes. The PO₂ and pH levels in the astrocyte culture medium were compared between a physical OGD group, a chemical OGD group and a mixed OGD group. The mixed OGD group was able to maintain anaerobic conditions in astrocyte culture medium for 6 h, while the physical and the chemical groups failed to maintain such conditions. Astrocyte viability decreased and LDH release into in the medium increased as a function of exposure to OGD. Compared to the control group, the expression of active caspase-3 in the mixed OGD group increased within 2 h after OGD, but decreased after 2 h of OGD. Additionally, porimin mRNA levels did not significantly increase during the first 2 h of OGD, while bcl-2 mRNA levels decreased at 1 h. However, both porimin and bcl-2 mRNA levels increased after 2 h of OGD; interestingly, they both suddenly decreased at 4 h of OGD. Taken together, these results indicate that apoptosis and oncosis are the two cell death pathways responsible for astrocyte death in the ischemic core. However, the main death pathway varies depending on the OGD period.

How to repair an ischemic brain injury? Value of experimental models in search of answers

The major aim of experimental models of cerebral ischemia is to study the cerebral ischemic damage under controlled and reproducible conditions. Experimental studies have been fundamental in the establishment of new concepts regarding the mechanisms underlying the ischemic brain injury, such as the ischemic penumbra, the reperfusion injury, the cell death or the importance of the damage induced on mitochondria, glial cells and white matter. Disagreement between experimental and clinical studies regarding the benefit of drugs to reduce or restore the cerebral ischemic damage has created a growing controversy about the clinical value of the experimental models of cerebral ischemia. One of the major explanations for the failure of the clinical trials is the reductionist approach of most therapies, which are focused on the known effect of a single molecule within a specific pathway of ischemic damage. This philosophy contrasts to the complex morphological design of the cerebral tissue and the complex cellular and molecular physiopathology underlying the ischemic brain injury. We believe that the main objective of studies carried out in experimental models of cerebral ischemic injury must be a better understanding of the fundamental mechanisms underlying progression of the ischemic injury. Clinical trials should not be considered if the benefit obtained in experimental studies is limited or weak.

Sulforaphane protects astrocytes against oxidative stress and delayed death caused by oxygen and glucose deprivation

Oxidative stress is an important molecular mechanism of astrocyte injury and death following ischemia/reperfusion and may be an effective target of intervention. One therapeutic strategy for detoxifying the many different reactive oxygen and nitrogen species that are produced under these conditions is induction of the Phase II gene response by the use of chemicals or conditions that promote the translocation of the transcriptional activating factor NRF2 from the cytosol to the nucleus, where it binds to genomic antioxidant response elements. This study tested the hypothesis that pre- or post-treatment of cultured cortical astrocytes with sulforaphane, an alkylating agent known to activate the NRF2 pathway of gene expression protects against death of astrocytes caused by transient exposure to O(2) and glucose deprivation (OGD). Rat cortical astrocytes were exposed to 5 muM sulforaphane either 48 h prior to, or for 48 h after a 4-h period of OGD. Both pre- and post-treatments significantly reduced cell death at 48 h after OGD. Immunostaining for 8-hydroxy-2-deoxyguanosine, a marker of DNA/RNA oxidation, was reduced at 4 h reoxygenation with sulforaphane pretreatment. Sulforaphane exposure was followed by an increase in cellular and nuclear NRF2 immunoreactivity. Moreover, sulforaphane also increased the mRNA, protein level, and enzyme activity of NAD(P)H/Quinone Oxidoreductase1, a known target of NRF2 transcriptional activation. We conclude that sulforaphane stimulates the NRF2 pathway of antioxidant gene expression in astrocytes and protects them from cell death in an in vitro model of ischemia/reperfusion.

Hyperoxia promotes astrocyte cell death after oxygen and glucose deprivation

Astrocyte dysfunction and death accompany cerebral ischemia/reperfusion and possibly compromise neuronal survival. Animal studies indicate that neuronal death, neurologic injury, and oxidative molecular modifications are worse in animals exposed to hyperoxic compared to normoxic ventilation during reperfusion after global cerebral ischemia. It is unknown, however, whether ambient O2 affects brain cell survival using in vitro ischemia paradigms where mechanisms of injury to specific cell types can be more thoroughly investigated. This study tested the hypothesis that compared with the supraphysiological level of 20% O2 normally used in cell culture, lower, more physiological O2 levels protect astrocytes from death following oxygen and glucose deprivation. Primary rat cortical astrocytes were cultured under either 7 or 20% O2, exposed to O2, and glucose deprivation for 4 h, and then exposed to normal medium under either 7 or 20% O2. Cell death and 3-nitrotyrosine and 8-hydroxy-2-deoxyguanosine immunoreactivities were assessed at different periods of reoxygenation. Astrocytes exposed to low levels of O2 during reoxygenation undergo less death and exhibit lower levels of protein nitration and nucleic acid oxidation when compared with those under high levels of O2 during reoxygenation. These results support the hypothesis that the 20% O2 normally used in cell culture exacerbates astrocyte death and oxidative stress in an in vitro ischemia/reperfusion model compared to levels that more closely approximate those that exist in vivo.

Stimulation of astrocyte Na+/H+ exchange activity in response to in vitro ischemia depends in part on activation of ERK1/2

We recently reported that Na+/H+ exchanger isoform 1 (NHE1) activity in astrocytes is stimulated and leads to intracellular Na+ loading after oxygen and glucose deprivation (OGD). However, the underlying mechanisms for this stimulation of NHE1 activity and its impact on astrocyte function are unknown. In the present study, we investigated the role of the ERK1/2 pathway in NHE1 activation. NHE1 activity was elevated by approximately 75% in NHE1+/+ astrocytes after 2-h OGD and 1-h reoxygenation (REOX). The OGD/REOX-mediated stimulation of NHE1 was partially blocked by 30 microM PD-98059. Increased expression of phosphorylated ERK1/2 was detected in NHE1+/+ astrocytes after OGD/REOX. Moreover, stimulation of NHE1 activity disrupted not only Na+ but also Ca2+ homeostasis via reverse-mode operation of Na+/Ca2+ exchange. OGD/REOX led to a 103% increase in intracellular Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i) in NHE1+/+ astrocytes in the presence of thapsigargin. Inhibition of NHE1 activity with the NHE1 inhibitor HOE-642 decreased OGD/REOX-induced elevation of [Ca2+]i by 73%. To further investigate changes of Ca2+ signaling, bradykinin-mediated Ca2+ release was evaluated. Bradykinin-mediated intracellular Ca2+ transient in NHE1+/+ astrocytes was increased by approximately 84% after OGD/REOX. However, in NHE1-/- astrocytes or NHE1+/+ astrocytes treated with HOE-642, the bradykinin-induced Ca2+ release was increased by only approximately 34%. Inhibition of the reverse mode of Na+/Ca2+ exchange abolished OGD/REOX-mediated Ca2+ rise. Together, our data suggest that ERK1/2 is involved in activation of NHE1 in astrocytes after in vitro ischemia. NHE1-mediated Na+ accumulation subsequently alters Ca2+ homeostasis via Na+/Ca2+ exchange.

AG490 prevents cell death after exposure of rat astrocytes to hydrogen peroxide or proinflammatory cytokines: involvement of the Jak2/STAT pathway

Janus kinases/STAT pathway mediates cellular responses to certain oxidative stress stimuli and cytokines. Here we examine the activation of Stat1 and Stat3 in rat astrocyte cultures and its involvement in cell death. H(2)O(2), interferon (INF)-gamma and interleukin (IL)-6 but not IL-10 caused cell death. Stat1 was phosphorylated on tyrosine (Tyr)-701 after exposure to H(2)O(2), INF-gamma or IL-6 but not IL-10. Tyr-705 pStat3 was observed after H(2)O(2), IL-6 and IL-10. Also, H(2)O(2) induced serine (Ser)-727 phosphorylation of Stat1 but not Stat3. The degree of Tyr-701 pStat1 by the different treatments positively correlated with the corresponding reduction of cell viability. AG490, a Jak2 inhibitor, prevented Tyr-701 but not Ser-727, Stat1 phosphorylation. Also, AG490 inhibited Tyr-705 Stat3 phosphorylation induced by H(2)O(2) and IL-6 but did not prevent that induced by IL-10. Furthermore, AG490 conferred strong protection against cell death induced by INF-gamma, IL-6 and H(2)O(2). These results suggest that Jak2/Stat1 activation mediates cell death induced by proinflammatory cytokines and peroxides. However, we found evidence suggesting that AG490 reduces oxidative stress induced by H(2)O(2), which further shows that H(2)O(2) and/or derived reactive oxygen species directly activate Jak2/Stat1, but masks the actual involvement of this pathway in H(2)O(2)-induced cell death.

Increased tolerance to oxygen and glucose deprivation in astrocytes from Na+/H+ exchanger isoform 1 null mice

The ubiquitously expressed Na+/H+ exchanger isoform 1 (NHE1) functions as a major intracellular pH (pHi) regulatory mechanism in many cell types, and in some tissues its activity may contribute to ischemic injury. In the present study, cortical astrocyte cultures from wild-type (NHE1+/+) and NHE1-deficient (NHE1−/−) mice were used to investigate the role of NHE1 in pHi recovery and ischemic injury in astrocytes. In the absence of HCO3−, the mean resting pHi levels were 6.86 ± 0.03 in NHE1+/+ astrocytes and 6.53 ± 0.04 in NHE1−/− astrocytes. Removal of extracellular Na+ or blocking of NHE1 activity by the potent NHE1 inhibitor HOE-642 significantly reduced the resting level of pHi in NHE1+/+ astrocytes. NHE1+/+ astrocytes exhibited a rapid pHi recovery (0.33 ± 0.08 pH unit/min) after NH4Cl prepulse acid load. The pHi recovery in NHE1+/+ astrocytes was reversibly inhibited by HOE-642 or removal of extracellular Na+. In NHE1−/− astrocytes, the pHi recovery after acidification was impaired and not affected by either Na+-free conditions or HOE-642. Furthermore, 2 h of oxygen and glucose deprivation (OGD) led to an ∼80% increase in pHi recovery rate in NHE1+/+ astrocytes. OGD induced a 5-fold rise in intracellular [Na+] and 26% swelling in NHE1+/+ astrocytes. HOE-642 or genetic ablation of NHE1 significantly reduced the Na+ rise and swelling after OGD. These results suggest that NHE1 is the major pHi regulatory mechanism in cortical astrocytes and that ablation of NHE1 in astrocytes attenuates ischemia-induced disruption of ionic regulation and swelling.

Induction of heat shock proteins (HSPs) by sodium arsenite in cultured astrocytes and reduction of hydrogen peroxide-induced cell death

Induction of heat shock proteins (HSPs) protects cells from oxidative injury. Here Hsp72, Hsp27 and heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) were induced in cultured rat astrocytes, and protection against oxidative stress was investigated. Astrocytes were treated with sodium arsenite (20-50 micro m) for 1 h, which was non-toxic to cells, 24 h later they were exposed to 400 micro m H2O2 for 1 h, and cell death was evaluated at different time points. Arsenite triggered strong induction of HSPs, which was prevented by 1 micro g/mL cycloheximide (CXH). H2O2 caused cell loss and increased cell death with features of apoptosis, i.e. TdT-mediated dUTP nick-end labelling (TUNEL) reaction and caspase-3 activation. These features were abrogated by pre-treatment with arsenite, which prevented cell loss and significantly reduced the number of dead cells. The protective effect of arsenite was not detected in the presence of CHX. Pre-treatment with arsenite increased protein kinase B (Akt) and extracellular signal regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2) phosphorylation after H2O2. However, while Akt phosphorylation was prevented by CHX, Erk1/2 phosphorylation was further enhanced by CHX. The results show that transient arsenite pre-treatment induces Hsp72, HO-1 and, to a lesser extent, Hsp27; it reduces H2O2-induced astrocyte death; and it causes selective activation of Akt following H2O2. It is suggested that HSP expression at the time of H2O2 exposure protects astrocytes from oxidative injury and apoptotic cell death by means of pro-survival Akt.

Hypoxia/reoxygenation-induced damage to mitochondrial activity is determined by glutathione threshold in astroglia-rich cell cultures

It has been shown that astrocytes play an important role during ischemia/reperfusion and in neurodegenerative diseases by supporting neuronal functions, but the effect of these pathophysiological conditions on this particular cell type is still unclear. Here, we investigated the ischemia/reperfusion-induced damage to astroglia-rich cells. For that purpose, we studied the effects of substrate deprivation and hypoxia/reoxygenation on total cellular glutathione contents, and mitochondrial function. Substrate deprivation as well as increasing time of cultivation in vitro (from 2 to 4 weeks) induced a decrease in the total glutathione content. Three qualitative distinct concentration ranges of the glutathione pool with respect to the effect of hypoxia/reoxygenation on the glutathione content were found: (i) high glutathione levels above 40 nmol per mg protein remained unchanged during hypoxia/reoxygenation. (ii) Hypoxia/reoxygenation was accompanied by higher glutathione levels in comparison to controls at intermediate initial glutathione concentrations of about 20 up to 40 nmol per mg protein. (iii) Below an initial glutathione threshold concentration of about 20 nmol per mg protein, hypoxia/reoxygenation led to a stronger decrease of glutathione levels in comparison to controls. Decrease of mitochondrial respiratory chain activity during hypoxia/reoxygenation only occurred at low initial glutathione concentrations below 20 nmol per mg protein. Our data emphasize the important role of glutathione with respect to the defense of mitochondria against oxidative stress in astroglia cells during hypoxia/reoxygenation.

Mitochondrial polarization in rat hippocampal astrocytes is resistant to cytosolic Ca(2+) loads

The influence of physiological Ca(2+)-inducing stimuli and agents mimicking ischemic conditions on mitochondrial potential was studied in postnatal (P1) hippocampal astrocytes. Cytosolic Ca(2+) loads with characteristic kinetics of rise and duration, detected by Fura-2, were provoked by extracellular Ca(2+) influx, release from InsP(3)-sensitive intracellular stores, or inhibition of the reloading of endoplasmic reticulum Ca(2+) stores. Inhibitors of mitochondrial respiration caused only moderate release of Ca(2+) from intracellular stores, inducing a rise of less than 60 nM. The maximal Ca(2+) rise was found with InsP(3)-mediated responses (500 nM; via ATP) or with ionophore (4-Br-A23187)-mediated Ca(2+) influx from extracellular medium (770 nM). Remarkably, all these agents causing significant rise of cytosolic Ca(2+), only minimally depolarized the mitochondria. Membrane potential of mitochondria was monitored by Rh123 or TMRE. Depolarization was only found with very high cytosolic Ca(2+) levels (above 60 microM; measured by fura FF). These were achieved with external Ca(2+) influx by ionophore in combination with inhibition of glycolysis. Thus, mitochondria in the astrocytes are obviously not sensitive to moderate cytosolic Ca(2+) loads, irrespective of the source of Ca(2+). Furthermore, isolated rat brain mitochondria display a low sensitivity of respiratory activity to Ca(2+), which is consistent with the data obtained with the astrocytes in vitro. The capacity of isolated mitochondria to build up a potential was gradually reduced at low micromolar Ca(2+) and totally compromised only at Ca(2+) concentrations in the 100 microM range.

Extracellular lactate and glucose alterations in the brain after head injury measured by microdialysis

OBJECTIVE

To study cerebral glucose and lactate metabolism in head-injured patients using microdialysis.

DESIGN

Prospective, nonrandomized, clinical study.

SETTING

Neurosurgical intensive care unit in a university-affiliated county hospital.

PATIENTS

One hundred twenty-six head-injured patients.

INTERVENTIONS

Cerebral cortical neurochemical monitoring using microdialysis coupled with systemic hemodynamic and oxygenation monitoring, measurement of cerebral perfusion pressure and intracranial pressure, and measurement of global cerebral oxygenation using jugular venous oxygen saturation in all 126 patients. In selected cases, cerebral blood flow was also measured using cortical thermodilution probes in 33 patients, and regional cerebral oxygenation was measured using PO2 probes in 65 patients.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS

Elevated extracellular lactate, reduced glucose, and an elevated lactate/glucose ratio were observed with cerebral hypoxia and ischemia. Elevated lactate and an increased lactate/glucose ratio strongly correlated with death. Other more subtle alterations of lactate and glucose were seen early after injury that may reflect compensatory alterations in cerebral metabolism.

CONCLUSIONS

Clinical neurochemical monitoring of glucose and lactate levels in the extracellular space of the cerebral cortex is technically feasible and provides insight into the bioenergetic status of the brain. Increased lactate and decreased glucose, indicating accelerated glycolysis, commonly occurred with cerebral ischemia or hypoxia, and increased anaerobic glycolysis in this setting is associated with a poor outcome.

Comparison of brain tissue oxygen tension to microdialysis-based measures of cerebral ischemia in fatally head-injured humans

This study investigated the relationship between brain tissue oxygen tension (PbtO2) and cerebral microdialysate concentrations of several compounds in five patients with refractory intracranial hypertension after severe head injury. The following substances were assayed: lactate and glucose; the excitatory amino acids glutamate and aspartate; and the cations potassium, calcium, and magnesium. Glucose concentrations did not correlate with PbtO2, but lactate increased as PbtO2 decreased. The lactate/glucose ratio exhibited a close relationship to PbtO2, increasing sharply only when oxygen tension reached zero. Although glucose and oxygen eventually reached very low levels and zero, respectively, in these fatally head-injured patients, the terminal decrease in PbtO2 slightly preceded that of glucose in four of the five patients. This time lag is the cause of the poor correlation between glucose and PbtO2. Glutamate and aspartate concentrations both demonstrated a close relationship to PbtO2, with sharp increases not occurring until PbtO2 was zero. Concentrations of these amino acids exhibited a similar pattern in response to decreasing glucose concentrations. Potassium concentrations began increasing at a PbtO2 of 35 mm Hg, which is not generally considered indicative of hypoxia. Sharper increases began occurring once PbtO2 dropped below 15 mm Hg, with a slight rise in the minimum potassium concentrations recorded at these low PbtO2 values. Calcium and magnesium concentrations did not vary in response to PbtO2. In summary, the most robust biochemical indicators of cerebral anoxia were elevations in the lactate/glucose ratio and in the concentrations of lactate and of the excitatory amino acids glutamate and aspartate. Furthermore, the fact that glucose concentrations continue to decrease for a short period after oxygen levels reach zero suggests that cells continue to utilize glucose anaerobically for such functions as maintenance of cellular integrity, with collapse of the cell membrane as evidenced by increases of extracellular glutamate and aspartate not occurring until both oxygen and glucose concentrations reach zero.

Stimulation of glutamate uptake and Na,K-ATPase activity in rat astrocytes exposed to ischemia-like insults

The postsynaptic actions of glutamate are rapidly terminated by high affinity glutamate uptake into glial cells. In this study we demonstrate the stimulation of both glutamate uptake and Na,K-ATPase activity in rat astrocyte cultures in response to sublethal ischemia-like insults. Primary cultures of neonatal rat cortical astrocytes were subjected to hypoxia, or to serum- and glucose-free medium, or to both conditions (ischemia). Cell death was assessed by propidium iodide staining of cell nuclei. To measure sodium pump activity and glutamate uptake, 3H-glutamate and 86Rb were both simultaneously added to the cell culture in the presence or absence of 2 mM ouabain. Na,K-ATPase activity was defined as ouabain-sensitive 86Rb uptake. Concomitant transient increases (2-3 times above control levels) of both Na,K-ATPase and glutamate transporter activities were observed in astrocytes after 4-24 h of hypoxia, 4 h of glucose deprivation, and 2-4 h of ischemia. A 24 h ischemia caused a profound loss of both activities in parallel with significant cell death. The addition of 5 mM glucose to the cells after 4 h ischemia prevented the loss of both sodium pump activity and glutamate uptake and rescued astrocytes from death observed at the end of 24 h ischemia. Reoxygenation after the 4 h ischemic event caused the selective inhibition of Na,K-ATPase activity. The observed increases in Na,K-ATPase activity and glutamate uptake in cultured astrocytes subjected to sublethal ischemia-like insults may model an important functional response of astrocytes in vivo by which they attempt to maintain ion and glutamate homeostasis under restricted energy and oxygen supply.

The effect of age on susceptibility to brain damage in a model of global hemispheric hypoxia-ischemia

Stroke occurs in all age groups, ranging from the newborn to the elderly. The immature brain is generally believed to be more resistant to the damaging effects of cerebrovascular compromise compared to the more mature brain. However, recent experiments suggest that the correlation between brain damage and age is not linear. To determine the effects of age and development on hypoxic-ischemic brain damage, we developed a model whereby rats of increasing age received identical cerebrovascular insults, and assessed neuropathologic outcome. Male Wistar rats of 1, 3, 6, and 9 weeks and 6 months underwent unilateral common carotid artery ligation and exposure to 12% oxygen for 35 min. Animals were all spontaneously breathing under light halothane anesthesia (0.5%). Core temperatures were maintained at 37 degrees C. Blood pressures were monitored via indwelling carotid artery catheters on the side ipsilateral to the carotid artery ligation. Cerebral blood flow was assessed in separate groups utilizing Laser Doppler flowmetry. Physiologic monitoring revealed that under these experimental conditions, mean arterial blood pressure and cerebral blood flow decreased to the same extent in each of the age groups, verifying that all animals experienced an identical insult. Neuropathologic assessment at 7 days of recovery showed that brain damage was most severe in the 1 and 3 week old animals followed by those that were 6 months. The 6 and 9 week old groups had significantly less injury than the other 3 age groups. Hippocampal damage was most severe in the 3 week and 6 month old rats compared to all other age groups. Our findings contrast previously held beliefs regarding the enhanced tolerance of the immature brain to hypoxic-ischemic damage and demonstrates that, in a physiologically controlled in vivo model of hemispheric global ischemia, (1) the immature brain is, in fact, less resistant to hypoxic-ischemic brain damage than its adult counterpart, (2) the brain damaging effects of hypoxic-ischemia are age dependent, but do not increase linearly with advancing age and development, and (3) the intermediate age groups are more tolerant to hypoxic-ischemic brain injury than either very young or more mature ages.

Oligodendroglial precursor cell susceptibility to hypoxia is related to poor ability to cope with reactive oxygen species

Oligodendrocyte precursors and astrocytes in 2-week-old rat primary glial cultures survived 24 h of anoxia, suggesting both cell types could survive using glycolysis for ATP synthesis; however, when the hypoxia developed gradually, the majority of oligodendrocyte precursor cells died within 24 h of the beginning of the experiment but astrocytes survived. Similarly when cultures were exposed to an atmosphere of 1% oxygen, but not 2% or greater, oligodendrocyte precursors died within 24 h. Much more lipid peroxidation was seen under conditions of hypoxia than under conditions of anoxia suggesting that oligodendrocyte precursors died under the former condition because of free radical-induced damage. Using 5-(and -6)-carboxy-2',7'-dichlorodihydrofluorescein (DCFH) as an intracellular probe of oxidative stress, we have demonstrated directly on living cells that oligodendrocyte precursors have a poorer ability to scavenge free radicals than astrocytes. Furthermore, when free radicals were induced to form in the cells either by cysteine auto-oxidation or menadione redox cycling, oligodendrocyte precursors were more readily damaged than astrocytes. We conclude that oligodendroglial precursor cells are exquisitively sensitive to reactive oxygen species.

Astrocyte survival in the absence of exogenous substrate: comparison of immature and mature cells

Astrocyte cultures prepared from newborn mouse neopallium were grown for either one or three weeks (representing, respectively, immature and mature astrocytes) and then exposed to deprivation of substrate (glucose and amino acids) for up to 48 hr. Cultures which had been deprived of metabolic substrates for either 24, 30, 36 or 48 hr were examined for lactate dehydrogenase efflux into the medium (an indicator of cell death) and ATP content. Significant cell death in mature astrocytes began after 30 hr of incubation in the substrate-deprived medium, a time when ATP had fallen to approximately 10% of its initial value. Immature astrocytes survived on a substrate-free medium for 48 hr before there was any indication at all of cell death, and this corresponded to a time when ATP values had fallen to 5% of the initial values. These findings are compared to previous observations during simulated ischemia (substrate deprivation plus anoxia) when (1) there was a faster cell death and (2) cell death occurred at higher ATP levels.

Correlation between content of high-energy phosphates and hypoxic-ischemic damage in immature and mature astrocytes

The effect of 'simulated ischemia', i.e., combined anoxia and substrate deprivation, was studied in 1- and 3-week-old (i.e., immature and mature) primary cultures of mouse astrocytes. Cell survival, as indicated by retention of the high-molecular cytosolic protein lactate dehydrogenase was compared with retained high-energy phosphate compounds (ATP and phosphocreatine). A previously established longer survival of the immature cells during the metabolic insult was confirmed and found to correlate with a more complete maintenance of high-energy phosphates. However, in both the mature and immature cells, no death occurred as long as the ATP content remained at or above 25% of its control value. ATP concentrations below 10% of control were accompanied by almost complete cell death in both age groups. Thus, the better survival of immature astrocytes during simulated ischemia is correlated with better maintenance of the levels of high-energy phosphates and, regardless of age, cell death occurs only once a critically 'low' threshold of ATP has been reached.

Cell death in primary cultures of mouse neurons and astrocytes during exposure to and 'recovery' from hypoxia, substrate deprivation and simulated ischemia

Effects of hypoxia, substrate deprivation and simulated ischemia (combined hypoxia and substrate deprivation) on cell survival during the insult itself and during a 24 h 'recovery' period were studied in primary cultures of mouse astrocytes and in cerebral cortical neuronal-astrocytic co-cultures. Cell death was determined by release of the cytosolic high molecular enzyme lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) as well as morphologically (retention of staining with rhodamine 123 and lack of staining with propidium iodide as an indicator of live cells). Glutamate concentrations were measured in the incubation media at the end of the metabolic insults. Astrocytes were very resistant to hypoxia, but less so to simulated ischemia; under both conditions the glutamate concentrations in the media remained low. Cerebral cortical neurons were almost equally susceptible to damage by hypoxia and by simulated ischemia, although hypoxia had a faster deleterious effects on some of the neurons and simulated ischemia during a long-term insult (9 h) killed all neurons, whereas a non-negligible neuronal subpopulation survived 9 h of hypoxia. Neuronal cell death after long-term hypoxia (but not after simulated ischemia) was correlated with high concentrations of glutamate in the incubation media. After certain insults, most notably relatively short lasting simulated ischemia (3 h) in neurons (which caused no increased cell death during the insult), there was a large release of LDH during the 'recovery' period.

Glutamate uptake and glutamate content in primary cultures of mouse astrocytes during anoxia, substrate deprivation and simulated ischemia under normothermic and hypothermic conditions

During brain ischemia in vivo the extracellular concentration of the excitotoxic amino acid, glutamate, increases. This increase could be caused either by an enhanced formation rate of glutamate (from glutamine) or by an impaired re-uptake (or both). This re-uptake occurs to a large extent in astrocytes. In the present study we have determined glutamate uptake and the ability of the cells to maintain their glutamate content during exposure to anoxia, substrate deprivation and combined substrate deprivation and anoxia ('simulated ischemia') for a duration of up to 4 h. Isolated anoxia had no significant effect, whereas both substrate deprivation alone and 'simulated ischemia' reduced glutamate uptake and glutamate content by one-half after 2 h. Under hypothermic conditions (incubation at 32 degrees C), which in in vivo experiments exerts some protection against ischemic cell death in neurons, ischemia of intermediate duration (2 h) decreased glutamate uptake and glutamate content to a less extent than at 37 degrees C. Hypothermia did not have a similar effect during exposure to isolated substrate deprivation.