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Biomedical subjects

A Schousboe

Publications and source records attributed to A Schousboe.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1992

Mobilization of dantrolene-sensitive intracellular calcium pools is involved in the cytotoxicity induced by quisqualate and N-methyl-D-aspartate but not by 2-amino-3-(3-hydroxy-5-methylisoxazol-4-yl)propionate and kainate in cultured cerebral cortical neurons.

By using primary cultures of cerebral cortical neurons, it has been demonstrated that the antihyperthermia drug dantrolene protects against cytotoxicity induced by the excitatory amino acids quisqualate (QA) and N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA), whereas no effect was observed on cell damage mediated by kainate (KA) or 2-amino-3-(3-hydroxy-5-methylisoxazol-4-yl)propionate (AMPA). In parallel it was shown that KA and AMPA increased the concentration of intracellular free calcium ([Ca2+]i) mainly by influx, whereas the increase in [Ca2+]i stimulated by NMDA and QA predominantly was caused by release of Ca2+ from intracellular stores, which for NMDA seemed to be mediated at least partly by Ca2+ influx. In accordance with the effects on cytotoxicity, dantrolene blocked the increase in [Ca2+]i elicited by QA and NMDA leaving the increase induced by KA and AMPA unaffected. The finding that 2-amino-3-[3-(carboxymethoxy)-5-methylisoxazol-4-yl]propionate, which regarding toxicity is a selective KA antagonist, only reduced the KA-stimulated increase in [Ca2+]i by 30% may suggest that the elevation of [Ca2+]i is not the only element in KA-induced cytotoxicity. On the other hand, the present study underlines the importance of Ca2+ for cytotoxicity induced by some excitatory amino acids (glutamate, NMDA, and QA) and supports the current proposal that multiple mechanisms are operating, even concerning calcium homeostasis. Because excitatory amino acid-induced cytotoxicity is thought to be involved in neuropathological conditions such as ischemia, it is possible that dantrolene might be of therapeutic interest.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

First direct electron microscopic visualization of a tight spatial coupling between GABAA-receptors and voltage-sensitive calcium channels.

Using cerebellar granule neurons in culture it was demonstrated that exposure of the cells to the GABAA receptor agonist 4,5,6,7-tetrahydroisoxazolo[5,4-c]pyridin-3-ol (THIP) leads to an increase in the number of voltage-gated calcium channels as revealed by quantitative preembedding indirect immunogold labelling using a monoclonal antibody specific for phenylalkylamine and dihydropyridine sensitive Ca2+ channels. Using the same technique and a monoclonal antibody (bd-17) to the beta 2/beta 3-subunit of the GABAA-receptor, double labelling of Ca2+ channels and GABAA-receptors with gold particles of different and well defined sizes were performed. This showed that in THIP-treated cultures 20% of GABAA-receptors in cell processes were located in close proximity (i.e. within 40 nm) of Ca2+ channels in the plasma membrane. This was not observed in non-treated cultures nor was it observed in cell bodies of THIP-treated cultures. This suggests that primarily low affinity GABAA-receptors are closely associated with Ca2+ channels and this may be important for the ability of these receptors to mediate an inhibitory action on transmitter release even under extreme depolarizing conditions.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

Purification and characterization of an astrocyte GABA-carrier inducing protein (GABA-CIP) released from cerebellar granule cells in culture.

A glycoprotein that induces gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) carriers in cultured cerebellar astrocytes was isolated and purified from conditioned media from cultured cerebellar granule cells by anion exchange chromatography, affinity chromatography, and gel filtration. Following gel filtration three fractions corresponding to M(r) 30,000, 60,000, and 240,000 exhibited GABA carrier inducing activity. SDS-PAGE of the M(r) 30,000 fraction revealed under non-reducing conditions three bands corresponding to M(r) 30,000, 60,000, and 120,000. Under reducing conditions only the band corresponding to an M(r) of 30,000 was visible. An identical N-terminal amino acid sequence and amino acid composition was found in the M(r) 30,000 and the M(r) 60,000 fraction from the gel filtration. These results suggest that the protein polymerizes into di- and tetramers. Computer base analysis of the N-terminal amino acid sequence revealed no obvious homology with previously reported N-terminal amino acid sequences. Application of the glycoprotein to cerebellar astrocytes led time and dose dependently to an increased GABA uptake. The effect became maximal after 24 h exposure of the cells. Kinetic analysis of the GABA uptake showed that exposure of the astrocytes to the glycoprotein led to an increase in Vmax for GABA uptake without affecting Km, suggesting an increase in the number of GABA carrier molecules. Addition of actinomycin D together with the glycoprotein abolished this effect suggesting that the glycoprotein acts by stimulating de novo synthesis of GABA carriers. Hence, the newly purified protein secreted from neurons is named GABA-carrier inducing protein (GABA-CIP).

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1992

Uptake and metabolism of malate in neurons and astrocytes in primary cultures.

Uptake and oxidative metabolism of [14C]malate as well as its incorporation into aspartate, glutamate, glutamine, and GABA were studied in cultured cerebral cortical neurons (GABAergic), cerebellar granule neurons (glutamatergic), and cerebral cortical astrocytes. All cell types exhibited high affinity uptake of malate (Km 10-85 microM) with slightly higher Vmax values in neurons (0.1-0.2 nmol x min-1 x mg-1) than in astrocytes (0.06 nmol x min-1 x mg-1). Malate was oxidatively metabolized in all three cell types with nominal rates of 14CO2 production of 2-15 pmol x min-1 x mg-1. The oxidation of malate was only slightly inhibited by 5 mM aminooxyacetic acid (AOAA). In granule cell preparations [14C]malate was incorporated into aspartate and glutamate and, to a much less extent, into glutamine. This incorporation was blocked by 5 mM AOAA. Astrocytes exhibited slightly higher incorporation rates into aspartate and glutamate, but in these cells glutamine was labelled to a considerable extent. AOAA (5 mM) inhibited the incorporation by 60-70%. In cultures of cerebral cortical neurons, very low levels of radioactivity derived from [14C]malate were found in aspartate and glutamate, and GABA was not labelled at all. Glutamine had the same specific activity as glutamate, indicating that the low rates of incorporation of radioactivity into amino acids in this preparation is likely to exclusively represent metabolism of malate in the small population of astrocytes (5% of total cell number), contaminating the neuronal cultures. The findings suggest that exogenous malate to a quantitatively limited extent may serve as a precursor for transmitter glutamate in glutamatergic neurons.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗
PubMed1992

Stereoselective effects of AMOA on non-NMDA receptors expressed in Xenopus oocytes.

Pharmacological characterization of the action of the novel non-N-methyl-D-aspartate (non-NMDA) antagonist AMOA (2-amino-3-[3-(carboxymethoxy)-5-methylisoxazol-4-yl]propionate) on glutamate receptors was investigated in Xenopus oocytes injected with mouse brain mRNA. AMOA (150 microM) produced a nearly parallel shift to the right of the dose-response curve for kainate-induced currents. AMOA was found to have two different effects on AMPA receptors: 1) currents elicited by low concentrations of AMPA (6 microM) were inhibited by AMOA with an IC50 value of 160 +/- 19 microM and 2) currents elicited by high concentrations of AMPA (100 microM) were potentiated with an IC50 value of 88 +/- 22 microM. The maximal potentiating effect of AMOA on AMPA currents was around 170%. Furthermore, the two opposing effects of AMOA on AMPA responses are specific for the L-configuration of AMOA. This unusual antagonistic/agonistic property of AMOA may explain its unusual properties with regard to antagonism of non-NMDA receptor-mediated events previously described.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

3H-D-aspartate release from cerebellar granule neurons is differentially regulated by glutamate- and K(+)-stimulation.

Neurotransmitter release in response to either 55 mM K+ or 25 microM glutamate as well as its dependency on Ca2+ from different sources was compared in cultured glutamatergic cerebellar granule cells from rat brain. The intracellular Ca2+ concentration was monitored at the single cell level in neurites as well as cell bodies employing the fluorescent Ca2+ indicator fura-2. Transmitter release was assayed using 3H-D-aspartate to label the exogenously accessible glutamate pools, which in these neurons is believed to also include the transmitter pool. In an attempt to distinguish whether transmitter release was dependent on an intact cytoskeleton or not, the colchicine-like drug Nocodazole, which also blocks transport of vesicles, was used. K(+)-stimulated transmitter release consisted for the major part (around 70%) of a Ca(2+)-dependent, Nocodazole sensitive release component and this K(+)-induced release appeared to be almost exclusively dependent on N-type Ca2+ channels. In contrast, 50% of the glutamate-induced Ca(2+)-dependent release was triggered by Ca2+ from a Dantrolene sensitive intracellular Ca2+ pool. Since these neurons undergo a pronounced maturational change in which neurotransmitter vesicles become increasingly prominent, the Ca2+ responses and transmitter release evoked by the two different stimuli were investigated as a function of the culture period. K+ and glutamate were found to increase intracellular [Ca2+] differentially. In 1-day-old cultures K+ elicited a small albeit significant increase in [Ca2+]i while glutamate was completely without effect. In 7-day-old neurons both agents induced a large increase in [Ca2+].(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗
PubMed1992

1H NMR study of cortex neurons and cerebellar granule cells on microcarriers and their PCA extracts: lactate production under hypoxia.

Lactate production of 6-day-old cerebral cortex neurons and 7-day-old cerebellar granule cells from mouse brain attached to cytodex 3 microcarriers was studied as a function of time, under hypoxic conditions using 1H NMR. Perchloric acid extracts of both cell types were prepared and 1H NMR spectra showed compounds characteristic for these neurons. In particular the granule cell extracts showed a large amount of glutamate as expected from biochemical experiments, whereas the cortex neurons showed a large amount of 4-aminobutyric acid.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

Possible role of cGMP in excitatory amino acid induced cytotoxicity in cultured cerebral cortical neurons.

Using cultured cerebral cortical neurons at mature stages (9 days in culture, d.i.c.) it was demonstrated that glutamate, NMDA (N-methyl-D-aspartate) and to a lesser extent KA (kainate) increase the intracellular cGMP concentration ([cGMP]i) whereas no such effect was observed after exposure of the cells to QA (quisqualate) and AMPA (2-amino-3-(3-hydroxy-5-methylisoxazol-4-yl)propionate). No effect of glutamate, NMDA and KA was observed in immature neurons (2 d.i.c.). The pharmacology of these cGMP responses was investigated using the glutamate antagonists APV (2-amino-5-phosphonovalerate) with selectivity for NMDA receptors, CNQX (6-cyano-7-nitro-quinoxaline-2,3-dione) with selectivity for non-NMDA receptors and the novel KA selective antagonists AMOA (2-amino-3-[3-(carboxymethoxy)-5-methylisoxazol-4-yl]propionate) and AMNH (2-amino-3-[2-(3-hydroxy-5-methylisoxazol-4-yl)methyl-5-methyl-3- oxoisoxazolin-4-yl]propionate). In addition, the cytotoxicity of glutamate, NMDA and KA was studied and found to be enhanced by addition of the non-metabolizable cGMP analogue 8-Br-cGMP. On the contrary, the toxicity of QA and AMPA was not affected by 8-Br-cGMP. Pertussis toxin augmented the toxicity elicited by glutamate, NMDA, KA and QA but not that induced by AMPA. On the other hand, only glutamate and KA induced toxicity was potentiated by cholera toxin, which also enhanced the stimulatory effect of glutamate and NMDA but not that of KA on the cellular cGMP content. The toxicity as well as the effects on intracellular cGMP levels could be antagonized by the specific excitatory amino acid (EAA) antagonists.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Amino Acids↗
PubMed1992

Synthesis and release of GABA in cerebral cortical neurons co-cultured with astrocytes from cerebral cortex or cerebellum.

Cerebral cortical neurons were co-cultured for up to 7 days with astrocytes after plating on top of a confluent layer of astrocytes cultured from either cerebral cortex or cerebellum (sandwich co-cultures). Neurons co-cultured with either cortical or cerebellar astrocytes showed a high stimulus coupled release of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), which is the neurotransmitter of these neurons. When the astrocyte selective GABA uptake inhibitor 4,5,6,7-tetrahydroisoxazolo[4,5-c]pyridin-3-ol was added during the release experiments, an increase in the stimulus coupled GABA release was seen, indicating that the astrocytes take up a large fraction of GABA released from the neurons. The activity of the GABA synthesizing enzyme glutamate decarboxylase, which is a specific marker of GABAergic neurons, was markedly increased in sandwich co-cultures of cortical neurons and cerebellar astrocytes compared to neurons cultured in the absence of astrocytes whereas in co-cultures with cortical astrocytes this increase was less pronounced. Pure astrocyte cultures did not show any detectable glutamate decarboxylase activity. The astrocyte specific marker enzyme glutamine synthetase (GS) was present at high activity in a glucocorticoid-inducible form in pure astrocytes as well as in co-cultures regardless of the regional origin of the astrocytes. When neurons were cultured on top of the astrocytes, the specific activity of GS was lower compared to astrocytes cultured alone, a result compatible with the notion that neurons are devoid of this enzyme. The results show that cortical neurons develop and differentiate when seeded on top of both homotypic and heterotypic astrocytes.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗
PubMed1992

Sulphur-containing excitatory amino acid-evoked Ca(2+)-independent release of D-[3H]aspartate from cultured cerebellar granule cells: the role of glutamate receptor activation coupled to reversal of the acidic amino acid plasma membrane carrier.

Sulphur-containing excitatory amino acid transmitter candidates (500 microM) stimulated the Ca(2+)-independent efflux of exogenously-supplied D-[3H]aspartate from primary cultures of cerebellar granule cells superfused continuously with HEPES-buffered saline containing CoCl2 (1 mM) in place of CaCl2. The stimulated release of D-[3H]aspartate was markedly attenuated by 200 microM 6,7-dinitroquinoxalinedione, a concentration at which the antagonist inhibits both non-N-methyl-D-aspartate and N-methyl-D-aspartate ionotropic excitatory amino acid receptors. The Ca(2+)-independent component of evoked release was also markedly attenuated and, in some cases, abolished by removing NaCl from the superfusion medium. Furthermore, when 700 microM dihydrokainate (demonstrated herein as a mixed/non-competitive inhibitor of the high-affinity dicarboxylic amino acid transporter in cultured granule cells) was included in the superfusion medium, stimulated efflux of D-[3H]aspartate was reduced by between 15-78% of the control response; the extent of inhibition varying with the agonist employed. In constrast, agents which act as competitive inhibitors of the plasma membrane carrier in granule cells, e.g. beta-methylene-D,L-aspartate, potentiated the release of D-[3H]aspartate in a synergistic manner. Taken together, these findings are consistent with a mechanism for the Ca(2+)-independent release of D-[3H]aspartate that is mediated predominantly by activation of excitatory amino acid receptors resulting in a reversal of the high-affinity dicarboxylic amino acid transport system. Although the physiological relevance of such non-vesicular release from the cytosol remains obscure and is still a matter of some debate, this mode of release may be of pathological significance.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

Role of taurine in neural cell volume regulation.

Release of taurine and other amino acids was monitored from cultured astrocytes and neurons under isosmotic and hyposmotic conditions as well as during exposure of the cells to 56 mM KCl. The release was correlated with swelling, as determined by the 3-O-methylglucose method. It was shown that release of taurine from astrocytes cultured from cerebral cortex and cerebellum of rats and mice regardless of the stimulating agent is a consequence of cell swelling. The release is unrelated to depolarization. This conclusion is also valid regarding release of taurine from cerebellar granule neurons. Comparison of release of different amino acids showed that not only taurine but also to some extent glutamate, aspartate, and glycine are released during cell swelling. On the other hand, glutamine is not released under these conditions. Studies of uptake of taurine under isosmotic and hyposmotic conditions as well as the dependency of the release on sodium and temperature strongly suggest that the release process is mediated by diffusional forces and not by a reversal of the high-affinity carrier. It is proposed that taurine may play an important role as an osmotically active substance in the brain involved in cell volume regulation.

Amino Acids↗
PubMed1991

Effect of phenylsuccinate on potassium- and ischemia-induced release of glutamate in rat hippocampus monitored by microdialysis.

The extracellular concentration of glutamate in rat hippocampus during physiological conditions, elevated extracellular K+ and global ischemia was followed by microdialysis and subsequent determination of glutamate by HPLC. The effect of phenylsuccinate, an inhibitor of the mitochondrial dicarboxylate carrier, was studied. It was found that while phenylsuccinate had no effect on the extracellular glutamate concentration during perfusion under physiological and ischemic conditions, the potassium-induced increase in the extracellular glutamate concentration was totally blocked by phenylsuccinate. Ischemia led to a pronounced glutamate overflow. The finding that phenylsuccinate could inhibit potassium-induced glutamate release into the extracellular space but not that induced by ischemia suggests that glutamate released under these conditions originates from different pools. Since glutamate released by a depolarizing concentration of potassium is likely to originate primarily from the transmitter pool, the ischemia-induced glutamate overflow may primarily be released from both the transmitter and the metabolic pool. This is compatible with the previous finding that phenylsuccinate specifically prevents biosynthesis of transmitter glutamate leaving the metabolic glutamate pool unaffected.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

Effect of a GABA agonist on the expression and distribution of GABAA receptors in the plasma membrane of cultured cerebellar granule cells: an immunocytochemical study.

The effect of the gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) agonist 4,5,6,7-tetrahydroisoxazolo[5,4-c]pyridin-3-ol (THIP, 150 microM) on the localization and density of GABAA receptors in the plasma membrane of rat cerebellar granule cells in primary cultures was studied at the electron microscope (EM) level by preembedding immunogold staining using the monoclonal antibody bd-17 directed against the beta-subunit of the GABAA receptor complex. In THIP-treated as well as untreated control cultures, GABAA receptors were found to be evenly distributed in the plasma membrane of cell bodies as well as processes. However, the density of the GABAA receptors was significantly increased in the THIP-treated cultures as compared to the control cultures and this effect of THIP was particularly pronounced in the processes. GABAA receptors were occasionally observed to form 'hot spots' in process-like structures and again the frequency of these areas with an extremely high density of GABAA receptors was greatly increased in the THIP-treated cultures compared to the controls. It has thus been demonstrated that the ability of GABA agonists to induce formation of low-affinity GABA receptors can be directly visualized and quantified at the EM level using the preembedding immunogold technique. It is likely that low-affinity GABAA receptors are preferentially located in the cell processes and to a considerable extent in the form of 'hot spots'. However, these 'hot spots' also contain high-affinity receptors.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

Characterization of microcarrier cultures of neurons and astrocytes from cerebral cortex and cerebellum.

In the present investigation a method is described for culturing cerebellar granule cells (glutamatergic neurons), cerebral cortical neurons (GABAergic neurons) and cortical astrocytes on Cytodex 3 microcarriers. It was possible to obtain a high yield of attached neurons and astrocytes on the microcarriers and the cell specific characteristics such as the ability to release neurotransmitter (neurons) and a high activity of glutamine synthetase (astrocytes) were preserved. This system, allowing mixtures of neurons and astrocytes at any given ratio to be produced, may constitute an attractive model system by which the interaction between neurons and astrocytes with regard to exchange of neurotransmitter precursors as well as other compounds may be studied.

Aging↗
PubMed1991

Utilization of alpha-ketoglutarate as a precursor for transmitter glutamate in cultured cerebellar granule cells.

Alpha-ketoglutarate together with an amino group donor (alanine) was shown to be able to serve as a precursor for the glutamate pool which is released by potassium-induced depolarization (i.e., transmitter glutamate) in cerebellar granule cells. However, these compounds could not be utilized as precursors for intracellular glutamate or for release of transmitter aspartate. The formation of transmitter glutamate was inhibited by the transamination inhibitor aminooxyacetic acid but not by phenylsuccinate, an inhibitor of the dicarboxylate carrier in the mitochondrial membrane. Both of these inhibitors have previously been found to inhibit synthesis of transmitter glutamate from glutamine. The results support the hypothesis that alpha-ketoglutarate and alanine undergo transmination in the cytosol to form pyruvate and glutamate, and that this glutamate pool is available for transmitter release of glutamate but does not constitute the major intracellular pool of glutamate.

Alanine↗