Acute reduction in whole cell conductance in anoxic turtle brain

Exposure to low temperature prepares the turtle brain to withstand anoxic environments during overwintering

In most vertebrates, anoxia drastically reduces the production of the essential adenosine triphosphate (ATP) to power its many necessary functions, and, consequently, cell death occurs within minutes. However, some vertebrates, such as the painted turtle (Chrysemys picta bellii), have evolved the ability to survive months without oxygen by simultaneously decreasing ATP supply and demand, surviving the anoxic period without any apparent cellular damage. The impact of anoxia on the metabolic function of painted turtles has received a lot of attention. However, the impact of low temperature has received less attention and the interactive effect of anoxia and temperature even less. In the present study, we investigated the interactive impacts of reduced temperature and severe hypoxia on the electrophysiological properties of pyramidal neurons in painted turtle cerebral cortex. Our results show that an acute reduction in temperature from 20 to 5°C decreases membrane potential, action potential width and amplitude, and whole-cell conductance. Importantly, acute exposure to 5°C considerably slows membrane repolarization by voltage-gated K+ channels. Exposing pyramidal cells to severe hypoxia in addition to an acute temperature change slightly depolarized membrane potential but did not alter action potential amplitude or width and whole-cell conductance. These results suggest that acclimation to low temperatures, preceding severe environmental hypoxia, induces cellular responses in pyramidal neurons that facilitate survival under low oxygen concentrations. In particular, our results show that temperature acclimation invokes a change in voltage-gated K+ channel kinetics that overcomes the acute inhibition of the channel.

Scavenging of reactive oxygen species mimics the anoxic response in goldfish pyramidal neurons

Goldfish are one of a few species able to avoid cellular damage during month-long periods in severely hypoxic environments. By suppressing action potentials in excitatory glutamatergic neurons, the goldfish brain decreases its overall energy expenditure. Coincident with reductions in O2 availability is a natural decrease in cellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, which has been proposed to function as part of a low-oxygen signal transduction pathway. Using live-tissue fluorescence microscopy, we found that ROS production decreased by 10% with the onset of anoxia in goldfish telencephalic brain slices. Employing whole-cell patch-clamp recording, we found that, similar to severe hypoxia, the ROS scavengers N-acetyl cysteine (NAC) and MitoTEMPO, added during normoxic periods, depolarized membrane potential (severe hypoxia -73.6 to -61.4 mV, NAC -76.6 to -66.2 mV and MitoTEMPO -71.5 mV to -62.5 mV) and increased whole-cell conductance (severe hypoxia 5.7 nS to 8.0 nS, NAC 6.0 nS to 7.5 nS and MitoTEMPO 6.0 nS to 7.6 nS). Also, in a subset of active pyramidal neurons, these treatments reduced action potential firing frequency (severe hypoxia 0.18 Hz to 0.03 Hz, NAC 0.27 Hz to 0.06 Hz and MitoTEMPO 0.35 Hz to 0.08 Hz). Neither severe hypoxia nor ROS scavenging impacted action potential threshold. The addition of exogenous hydrogen peroxide could reverse the effects of the antioxidants. Taken together, this supports a role for a reduction in [ROS] as a low-oxygen signal in goldfish brain.

Oxygen-sensitive interneurons exhibit increased activity and GABA release during ROS scavenging in the cerebral cortex of the western painted turtle

The western painted turtle (Chrysemys picta bellii) has the unique ability of surviving several months in the absence of oxygen, which is termed anoxia. One major protective strategy that the turtle employs during anoxia is a reduction in neuronal electrical activity, which may result from a natural reduction in reactive oxygen species (ROS). We previously linked a reduction in ROS levels to an increase in γ-amino butyric acid (GABA) receptor currents. The purpose of this study is to understand how fast-spiking, GABA-releasing neurons respond to reductions in ROS and how this affects GABA release. Using a fluorescence-coupled enzymatic microplate assay for GABA, we found that anoxia, the ROS scavenger N-(2-mercaptopriopionyl)glycine (MPG), or the mitochondria-specific ROS scavenger MitoTEMPO resulted in a 2.5-, 2.0-, and 2.5-fold increase in extracellular GABA concentration, respectively. This phenomenon could be blocked with TTX, indicating that it is activity dependent. Using whole cell patch-clamping techniques, we found that fast-spiking, burst-firing GABAergic turtle neurons increase the duration and number of action potentials per burst by 26% and 42%, respectively, in response to ROS scavenging via MPG. These results suggest that the reduction in mitochondrially produced ROS that occurs during anoxia leads to increased GABA release, which promotes postsynaptic inhibitory activity through activation of GABA receptors.NEW & NOTEWORTHY This is a novel study examining the response of cerebral cortical stellate interneurons to anoxia and mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenging with MitoTEMPO. Under both conditions burst firing increases in these cells, and we show that extracellular GABA release increases in the presence of the ROS scavenger. We conclude that in the anoxia-tolerant painted turtle brain, a decrease in ROS levels is an important low oxygen signal.

Decreases in mitochondrial reactive oxygen species initiate GABA(A) receptor-mediated electrical suppression in anoxia-tolerant turtle neurons

Anoxia induces hyper-excitability and cell death in mammalian brain but in the anoxia-tolerant western painted turtle (Chrysemys picta bellii) neuronal electrical activity is suppressed (i.e. spike arrest), adenosine triphosphate (ATP) consumption is reduced, and cell death does not occur. Electrical suppression is primarily the result of enhanced γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) transmission; however, the underlying mechanism responsible for initiating oxygen-sensitive GABAergic spike arrest is unknown. In turtle cortical pyramidal neurons there are three types of GABA(A) receptor-mediated currents: spontaneous inhibitory postsynaptic currents (IPSCs), giant IPSCs and tonic currents. The aim of this study was to assess the effects of reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenging on these three currents since ROS levels naturally decrease with anoxia and may serve as a redox signal to initiate spike arrest. We found that anoxia, pharmacological ROS scavenging, or inhibition of mitochondrial ROS generation enhanced all three types of GABA currents, with tonic currents comprising ∼50% of the total current. Application of hydrogen peroxide inhibited all three GABA currents, demonstrating a reversible redox-sensitive signalling mechanism. We conclude that anoxia-mediated decreases in mitochondrial ROS production are sufficient to initiate a redox-sensitive inhibitory GABA signalling cascade that suppresses electrical activity when oxygen is limited. This unique strategy for reducing neuronal ATP consumption during anoxia represents a natural mechanism in which to explore therapies to protect mammalian brain from low-oxygen insults.

First aid kit for hypoxic survival: sensors and strategies

Survival success under conditions of acute oxygen deprivation depends on efficiency of the central and peripheral chemoreception, optimization of oxygen extraction from the hypoxic environment and its delivery to the periphery, and adjustments of energy production and consumption. This article uses a comparative approach to assess the efficiency of adaptive strategies used by anoxia-tolerant and hypoxia-sensitive species to support survival during the first minutes to 1 h of oxygen deprivation. An aquatic environment is much more demanding in terms of diurnal and seasonal variations of the ambient oxygen availability from anoxia to hyperoxia than is an air environment. Therefore, fishes and aquatic turtles have developed a number of adaptive responses, which are lacking in most of the terrestrial mammals, to cope with these extreme conditions. These include efficient central and peripheral chemoreception, acute changes in respiratory rate and amplitude, and acute increase of the gas-exchange interface. A special set of adaptive mechanisms are engaged in reduction of the energy expenditure of the major oxygen-consuming organs: the brain and the heart. Both reduction of ATP consumption and a switch to alterative energy sources contribute to the maintenance of ATP and ion balance in hypoxia-tolerant animals. Hypoxia and hyperoxia are conditions favoring development of oxidative stress. Efficient protection from oxidation in anoxia-tolerant species includes reduction in the glutamate levels in the brain, stabilization of the mitochondrial function, and maintenance of nitric oxide production under conditions of oxygen deprivation. We give an overview of the current state of knowledge on some selected molecular and cellular acute adaptive mechanisms. These include the mechanisms of chemoreception in adult and neonatal mammals and in fishes, acute metabolic adaptive responses in the brain, and the role of nitrite in the preservation of heart function under hypoxic conditions.

Matching cellular metabolic supply and demand in energy-stressed animals

Certain environmental stressors can impair cellular ATP production to the point of harming or even killing an animal. Some exceptional animals employ strategies that maintain the balance between ATP production and consumption, allowing them to tolerate prolonged exposure to stressors such as hypoxia and anoxia. Anoxia- and hypoxia-tolerant animals reduce ATP consumption by ion-motive ATPases while concomitant reductions in passive ion flux reduce the demand for ion pumping and maintain transmembrane ion gradients. Reductions in gene transcription and protein turnover decrease ATP demand in hibernating and hypoxia-tolerant animals. Proton leak uncouples mitochondrial substrate oxidation from ATP synthesis and accounts for a considerable proportion of cellular energy demand, but there is little evidence that the proton permeability of inner mitochondrial membranes decreases in animals that tolerate energy stress. Indeed in some cases proton leak increases, possibly reducing reactive oxygen species production. Because substrate oxidation is important to the control of cellular metabolism, the downregulation of ATP supply pathways contributes significantly to metabolic suppression under energy stress. Mechanisms that coordinate the downregulation of both ATP supply and demand pathways include AMP kinase and ATP-sensitive ion channels. Strategies employed by animals tolerant to one energy stress often convey "cross-tolerance" to completely different stresses.

Anoxia-induced changes in reactive oxygen species and cyclic nucleotides in the painted turtle

The Western painted turtle survives months without oxygen. A key adaptation is a coordinated reduction of cellular ATP production and utilization that may be signaled by changes in the concentrations of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and cyclic nucleotides (cAMP and cGMP). Little is known about the involvement of cyclic nucleotides in the turtle's metabolic arrest and ROS have not been previously measured in any facultative anaerobes. The present study was designed to measure changes in these second messengers in the anoxic turtle. ROS were measured in isolated turtle brain sheets during a 40-min normoxic to anoxic transition. Changes in cAMP and cGMP were determined in turtle brain, pectoralis muscle, heart and liver throughout 4 h of forced submergence at 20-22 degrees C. Turtle brain ROS production decreased 25% within 10 min of cyanide or N(2)-induced anoxia and returned to control levels upon reoxygenation. Inhibition of electron transfer from ubiquinol to complex III caused a smaller decrease in [ROS]. Conversely, inhibition of complex I increased [ROS] 15% above controls. In brain [cAMP] decreased 63%. In liver [cAMP] doubled after 2 h of anoxia before returning to control levels with prolonged anoxia. Conversely, skeletal muscle and heart [cAMP] remained unchanged; however, skeletal muscle [cGMP] became elevated sixfold after 4 h of submergence. In liver and heart [cGMP] rose 41 and 127%, respectively, after 2 h of anoxia. Brain [cGMP] did not change significantly during 4 h of submergence. We conclude that turtle brain ROS production occurs primarily between mitochondrial complexes I and III and decreases during anoxia. Also, cyclic nucleotide concentrations change in a manner suggestive of a role in metabolic suppression in the brain and a role in increasing liver glycogenolysis.

Modulation of visual inputs to accessory optic system by theophylline during hypoxia

Neural tissues from fresh water turtles have been electrophysiologically studied in vitro due to their significant resistance to hypoxia. Such neurons have resting membrane potentials that are similar to intact animals and receive similar synaptic inputs evoked by sensory stimuli. One mechanism to reduce the brain's metabolic requirement in the absence of oxygenated blood flow was investigated by blocking adenosine receptors before and during hypoxia. Extracellular and whole-cell patch recordings were made from the basal optic nucleus, whose neurons respond to visual stimuli in vitro. While the addition of the adenosine antagonist theophylline to oxygenated superfusate had minimal effect on the neural activity, theophylline in superfusate bubbled with nitrogen strongly increased activity compared to either oxygenated theophylline or control superfusate bubbled with nitrogen. The increase in spontaneous activity was due to increases to both amplitude and frequency of excitatory synaptic events. Even during these increases, the neurons continued to exhibit their direction-sensitive responses. These results indicate that adenosine may play a role in protecting the viability of the brainstem during hypoxia without reducing visually mediated brainstem reflex control.

Anoxia tolerant brains

While medical science has struggled to find ways to counteract anoxic brain damage with limited success, evolution has repeatedly solved this problem. The best-studied examples of anoxia-tolerant vertebrates are the crucian carp and some North American Freshwater turtles. These can survive anoxia for days to months, depending of temperature. Both animals successfully fight any major fall in brain ATP levels, but the strategies they use to accomplish this are quite divergent. The anoxic turtle suppresses brain activity to such a degree that it becomes virtually comatose. The underlying mechanisms involve closing down ion conductances and releasing GABA and adenosine. By contrast, the crucian carp remains active in anoxia, although it suppresses selected brain functions, and avoids lactate self-poisoning by producing an exotic anaerobic end-product. These animals provide unique models for studying anoxic survival mechanisms both on a molecular and physiological level.

Adaptive responses of vertebrate neurons to hypoxia

The damage caused to mammalian neurons during ischaemic events in the brain(e.g. following a stroke), is an area of major interest to neuroscientists. The neurons of hypoxia-tolerant vertebrates offer unique models for identifying new strategies to enhance the survival of hypoxia-vulnerable neurons. In this review, we describe recent advances in our understanding of how hypoxia-tolerant neurons detect decreases in oxygen and create signals that have immediate and long-term effects on cell function and survival. Sensing and adapting to low oxygen tension involves numerous modalities with different times of activation and effect. Sensors include membrane proteins such as ionotropic ion channels, membrane or cytosolic heme proteins,mitochondrial proteins and/or oxygen sensitive transcription factors such as HIF-1α and NFκB. Signaling molecules involved in O2sensing include mitogen-activated protein kinases, ions such as Ca2+ and metabolites such as adenosine. These signals act rapidly to reduce the conductance of ion channels (ion flux arrest) and production of energy (metabolic arrest), and slowly to activate specific genes. The ability to construct an energy budget, illustrating which physiological processes are depressed during both long-term and acute metabolic suppression in hypoxia-tolerant neurons, would be of significant value in devising new strategies for neuroprotection. Additionally it is not known how metabolism is regulated at `pilot-light' levels at which energy-producing and energy-consuming processes are balanced. The regulation of organelle and cell fate during long-term hypoxia is almost completely unexplored, and whether programmed cell death and regeneration of lost neurons occur following protracted dormancy is also of considerable interest.