Korean J Anat.  1998 Aug;31(4):545-555.

Effects of Transient Cerebral Ischemia on the Expression of N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor subunit 2A, 2B and Neurofilament 200 in the Rat Cerebral Cortex

• Jung YW
• Moon IS
• Ko BH

Abstract

Transient cerebral ischemia was induced by bilateral common carotid artery ligation with reperfusion to understand its effect on the expression of NMDA receptor subunits 2A (NR2A), 2B (NR2B), and NF200 The changes of the expressions of NR2A, NR2B, and NF200 in cerebral postsynaptic density (PSD) were evaluated through immunoblot analyses. The expressions of NR2A and NF200 were markedly decreased until 18 hours after reperfusion, while that of NR2B was increased. The immunohistochemistry with NFIGO antibody showed that NF200 protein, which is a marker for neuronal damage, was also significantly decreased at this time point indicating neuronal damages, and the morphological damages of neuronal cells were evident by hyperchromatic condensation of nucleus, irregular cell membrane, displacement of nucleus, and chromatolysis of Nissl substances in toluidine blue stain. However, from 18 hours to 3 day after reperfusion, immunoblot analyses showed that NF200 was increased significantly, while the expression of NR2A were recovered to the control level and that of NR2B was returned to somewhat higher level than control. The NR1/NR2B-type receptor is known to have a longer offset decay time than NR1/NR2A-type ones, and to be more potent in Ca2 influxing. Therefore, our results suggest that, until 18 hours, neurons are damaged by overinflux of Ca2 through NR1/NR2B receptors which helps to degrade NF200 by Ca2 sensitive professes resulting in damages to intracellular transport. The fact that the expression of NF200 was increased even though the NR2A and NR2B are control level during 18 hours to 3 days after damage suggests that NMDA receptor subunits expressed at this time may not form functional receptors. The worsening of some neuronal damages after 3 days may indicate that an abnormal reorganization of elevated NF200 between 18 hours to 3 days further disturb intracellular transport and functions of cell membrane which cause cell death.

MeSH Terms

Animals
Carotid Artery, Common
Cell Death
Cell Membrane
Cerebral Cortex*
Immunohistochemistry
Ischemic Attack, Transient*
Ligation
N-Methylaspartate*
Neurons
Post-Synaptic Density
Rats*
Reperfusion
Tolonium Chloride
N-Methylaspartate
Tolonium Chloride