突触内与突触外NMDA受体在β-淀粉样蛋白减少海马神经元突触后密度蛋白-95表达中的作用

目的 研究可溶性Aβ寡聚体在海马神经元中对突触蛋白表达的影响.方法 用免疫细胞化学方法检测在NMDA拮抗剂与激动剂作用下,Aβ25～35对突触后密度蛋白(PSD-95)表达的影响.结果 Aβ25～35引起的PSD-95减少具有时间、剂量依赖性.PSD-95的减少可被非特异性NMDA受体拮抗剂(MK801)缓解;突触外NMDA受体被阻断时,也可显著缓解;而在突触内NMDA受体被阻断时,无显著性改变.结论 Aβ引起的PSD-95减少依赖NMDA受体活性,突触外NMDA受体可能参与Aβ诱导突触蛋白降解.     

β淀粉样蛋白对培养海马神经元NMDA受体亚单位磷酸化及其亚细胞定位的影响

目的:探讨在β淀粉样蛋白(Aβ)突触毒性作用下,N-甲基-D-天(门)冬氨酸受体(NMDA)受体亚单位的磷酸化状态及其在细胞不同部位的表达与分布,推测其所诱导突触功能紊乱的作用机制。方法:原代培养的大鼠海马神经元加入Aβ(10μmol/L)1 h后,免疫荧光检测加药组和对照组近胞体段10μm树突上PY1325NR2A和PY1472 NR2B总表达量及突触内表达量的变化。结果:Aβ作用1 h后与对照组比较,PY1325 NR2A及PY1472 NR2B表达量均显著减少;突触内PY1325 NR2A的表达量显著增加,而PY1472 NR2B表达量没有明显变化。结论:NMDA受体亚单位的磷酸化参与Aβ的突触毒性作用,提示磷酸化后的NR2A、NR2B功能可能发生变化,即NR2A可能由保护作用变为毒性作用,而NR2B则相反。     

快速老化小鼠海马突触体内NMDA受体的表达变化

目的:观察NMDA受体在SAMP8小鼠海马突触体内的表达变化。方法:首先应用生物化学的方法分离海马突触蛋白,并对其进行鉴定。其次,Western Blot检测NMDA受体的主要亚基NR1、NR2A和NR2B在SAMP8小鼠海马突触体内的表达变化。结果:PSD-95和synaptophysin特异性抗体检测显示突触蛋白的分离是成功的。SAMP8小鼠海马内NR1、NR2A和NR2B在突触的表达均显著低于SAMR1小鼠。进一步分析NR1、NR2A和NR2B蛋白在突触的表达量占总表达量的比值,SAMP8小鼠同样显著低于SAMR1小鼠,而SAMR1和CD-1小鼠间没有显著性差异。结论:SAMP8小鼠海马突触体内NR1、NR2A和NR2B的蛋白表达水平均显著性降低,推测NMDA受体在突触表达水平的降低可能是导致受体功能失调,激发突触功能损伤信号途径的原因之一,进而导致SAMP8小鼠学习记忆功能的下降。     

培养海马神经元突触外NMDA受体通道电流在发育中的变化

为观察培养大鼠海马神经元突触外NMDA受体通道电流在发育中的变化,本研究采用膜外面向外模式记录突触外NMDA受体介导的单通道电流。结果显示:培养2周神经元的电流幅度和开放概率比培养1周神经元大,但电导和翻转电位无显著差异。培养2周神经元只出现高电导开放,培养1周神经元同时出现高电导和低电导两种开放形式。NR2B受体亚型的特异性拮抗剂ifenprodil可降低培养1周和2周海马神经元的电流幅度、电导和开放概率,且对培养2周神经元开放概率的抑制作用更明显。以上结果表明,培养海马神经元突触外NMDA受体通道电流有发育变化,且培养1周神经元突触外NMDA受体的NR2亚型可能为NR2B和NR2D;而神经元培养到2同时,突触外主要为NR2B亚型,且数量有所增加。     

铝暴露对海马NMDA受体的影响

铝是一种慢性神经毒性物质,能影响神经系统的多种功能,特别是对学习和记忆功能有抑制作用。铝可通过改变神经细胞的膜功能和NMDA受体等途径影响细胞内外的钙稳态,造成细胞结构和功能障碍,导致学习记忆能力出现不同程度的下降。NMDA受体是中枢谷氨酸盐兴奋性受体的一种,参与突触可塑性及皮质和海马神经元长时程增强(LTP)效应。NMDA受体通道在学习记忆中开启和学习记忆、神经元可塑性及大脑发育等方面均起重要作用。     

NMDA对新生大鼠皮层神经元的兴奋毒作用

目的:建立NMDA诱导原代培养皮层神经元兴奋毒损伤模型,探讨NMDA对NMDA受体过度活化诱导兴奋性神经毒的可能途径。方法:原代培养新生大鼠大脑皮层神经元,通过倒置显微镜形态学观察、细胞活力检测(MTT及LDH释放的检测)及胞内Ca2+的动态测定,探索NMDA诱导毒性作用的适当浓度及时间。通过对ROS、NO检测,分析NMDA诱导毒性作用于线粒体的损伤情况。结果:NMDA(100μmol/L/2 h)引起皮层神经元形态学改变,且引起神经元细胞活力时间和浓度依赖性的下降,由同时伴随LDH释放增加(P<0.05),ROS和NO的生成量明显增加(P<0.05),皮层神经元内Ca2+的快速升高,并维持在高水平。结论:NMDA诱发皮层神经元明显的细胞毒性作用,提示NMDA过度活化NMDA受体后通过神经元膜内Ca2+超载造成ROS和NO的生成量增加,导致皮层神经元产生毒性损伤。     

姜黄素对TNF-α损伤大鼠海马神经元的功能性保护作用及机制

目的:观察姜黄素对TNF-α损伤大鼠海马神经元的功能性保护作用并探讨其机制。方法:应用离体脑片记录技术,记录大鼠海马CA1区的兴奋性突触后电位(EPSP),给予Schaffer侧支高频刺激(HFS)诱发长时程增强(LTP),观察不同药物处理组EPSP起始斜率的变化情况。结果:与对照组相比,TNF-α和NMDA(N-甲基D-天冬氨酸)对大鼠海马脑片LTP产生明显的抑制作用(P0.05);而姜黄素可以部分拮抗TNF-α和NMDA对海马脑片LTP的抑制作用,与对照组相比无显著差异(P0.05);TNF-α、姜黄素和NMDA对大鼠海马神经元的基础突触传递没有显著影响。结论:姜黄素对TNF-α损伤的大鼠海马神经元有功能性保护作用,其机制可能是姜黄素部分拮抗TNF-α诱导的神经元细胞膜上的NMDA受体过度激活,维持神经元的长时程增强。     

磷脂酶C-三磷酸肌醇途径参与β-淀粉样肽(25-35)诱导的海马神经元[Ca~(2+)]i的增加

目的探讨内质网(ER)钙库在β-淀粉样肽(25-35)(Aβ25-35)诱导的细胞内钙超载中的作用。方法用钙高度特异性荧光探针Flou-3/AM负载海马神经元,进行荧光染色,利用激光扫描共焦显微镜观察在不同药物干预条件下海马神经元内游离钙离子荧光强度的变化。结果 2、10、20μmol/L各浓度组凝聚态Aβ25-35均增加了海马神经元胞内[Ca2+]i(n=5,P0.05);三磷酸肌醇受体(IP3R)的特异性抑制剂2-APB明显地抑制了胞内[Ca2+]i的增加,蓝尼碱受体(RyR)的特异性抑制剂硝苯呋海因(dantrolene)却无法抑制。Aβ25-35作用1h后内质网钙容量即有明显下降,作用24h后降低更为明显。在无细胞外钙情况下,磷脂酶C(PLC)的抑制剂U73122部分抑制了Aβ25-35诱导的胞内[Ca2+]i的增加。结论凝聚态Aβ25-35可通过IP3途径产生,IP3作用于IP3R而引起内质网钙的释放,磷脂酶C的活化可能参与了上述过程。     

Relationships between hippocampal NMDA receptor and NOS positive neurons in myenteric nerve plexus in stomach of CUMS rats

目的 探讨慢性应激对大鼠胃功能和胃肠神经系统的影响,并分析其海马谷氨酸(Glu)离子型受体机制.方法 通过建造慢性应激性抑郁模型大鼠,结合脑立体定位及微量注射Glu和N-甲基-D-天冬氨酸(NMDA)受体阻断剂MK-801,对实验鼠进行糖水偏爱等行为学检测、胃内压记录及胃内在神经丛的一氧化氮合酶(NOS)阳性神经元表达的组织化学检测.结果 慢性不可预见性温和应激(CUMS)动物表现出抑郁样行为,且胃运动减弱；海马注射NMDA受体阻断剂MK-801,可以反转CUMS的效应；海马注射Glu,能增加游泳不动时间,但对胃运动无影响.CUMS使胃肌间神经丛NOS阳性神经元数量减少[(73.74±16.38 )/LPF,P＜0.05],神经节数量减少[(4.25±1.34)/LPF,P＜0.05],但每个神经节内神经元数量明显增加(6.55±2.37,P＜0.05)；海马注射MK-801能改善CUMS引起的神经节数量减少的现象.结论 慢性应激诱发的抑郁样行为与海马Glu及其NMDA受体有关,而胃活动的减弱可能与海马NMDA受体变化影响胃肌间神经丛NOS神经元分布格局有关.     

β-淀粉样蛋白在Alzheimer病中的神经毒性

文综述了β淀粉样蛋白多肽(βamyloid peptide,Aβ)在老年性痴呆症(Alzheimer's disease,AD)中的毒性作用。Aβ是老年斑形成的始动因子,也是老年斑核中的核心成分;Aβ沉积所形成的神经炎性斑,即老年斑是AD脑内特征性病理变化之一;Aβ本身也可形成自由基损伤神经元;Aβ引起的细胞凋亡在AD病神经元丢失中起着重要作用;Aβ可作用于胆碱能神经元末梢,通过抑制胆碱的摄取而减少乙酰胆碱合成,减少海马和皮质脑片释放乙酰胆碱。总之,Aβ是通过多个环节引发神经毒性作用的。     

Brain-derived neurotrophic factor activation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase is autonomous from the dominant extrasynaptic NMDA receptor extracellular signal-regulated kinase shutoff pathway

NMDA receptors bidirectionally modulate extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) through the coupling of synaptic NMDA receptors to an ERK activation pathway that is opposed by a dominant ERK shutoff pathway thought to be coupled to extrasynaptic NMDA receptors. In the present study, synaptic NMDA receptor activation of ERK in rat cortical cultures was partially inhibited by the highly selective NR2B antagonist Ro25-6981 (Ro) and the less selective NR2A antagonist NVP-AAM077 (NVP). When Ro and NVP were added together, inhibition appeared additive and equal to that observed with the NMDA open-channel blocker MK-801. Consistent with a selective coupling of extrasynaptic NMDA receptors to the dominant ERK shutoff pathway, pre-block of synaptic NMDA receptors with MK-801 did not alter the inhibitory effect of bath-applied NMDA on ERK activity. Lastly, in contrast to a complete block of synaptic NMDA receptor activation of ERK by extrasynaptic NMDA receptors, activation of extrasynaptic NMDA receptors had no effect upon ERK activation by brain-derived neurotrophic factor. These results suggest that the synaptic NMDA receptor ERK activation pathway is coupled to both NR2A and NR2B containing receptors, and that the extrasynaptic NMDA receptor ERK inhibitory pathway is not a non-selective global ERK shutoff.     

In developing hippocampal neurons, NR2B-containing N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors (NMDARs) can mediate signaling to neuronal survival and synaptic potentiation, as well as neuronal death

It has been suggested that NR2B-containing N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptors have a selective tendency to promote pro-death signaling and synaptic depression, compared with the survival promoting, synapse potentiating properties of NR2A-containing NMDA receptors. A preferential localization of NR2A-containing NMDA receptors at the synapse in maturing neurons could thus explain differences in synaptic vs. extrasynaptic NMDA receptor signaling. We have investigated whether NMDA receptors can mediate signaling to survival, death, and synaptic potentiation, in dissociated rat neuronal cultures at a developmental stage prior to significant NR2A expression and subunit-specific differences between synaptic and extrasynaptic NMDA receptors. We show that in developing hippocampal neurons, the progressive reduction in sensitivity of NMDA receptor currents to the NR2B antagonist ifenprodil applies to both synaptic and extrasynaptic locations. However, the reduction is less acute in extrasynaptic currents, indicating that NR2A does partition preferentially, but not exclusively, into synaptic locations at DIV>12. We then studied NMDA receptor signaling at DIV10, when both synaptic and extrasynaptic NMDA receptors are both overwhelmingly and equally NR2B-dominated. To analyze pro-survival signaling we studied the influence of synaptic NMDA receptor activity on staurosporine-induced apoptosis. Blockade of spontaneous NMDAR activity with MK-801, or ifenprodil exacerbated the apoptotic insult. Furthermore, MK-801 and ifenprodil both antagonized neuroprotection promoted by enhancing synaptic activity. Pro-death signaling induced by a toxic dose of NMDA is also blocked by NR2B-specific antagonists. Using a cell culture model of synaptic NMDA receptor-dependent synaptic potentiation, we find that this is mediated exclusively by NR2B-containing N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors, as implicated by NR2B-specific antagonists and the use of selective vs. non-selective doses of the NR2A-preferring antagonist NVP-AAM077. Therefore, within a single neuron, NR2B-NMDA receptors are able to mediate both survival and death signaling, as well as model of NMDA receptor-dependent synaptic potentiation. In this instance, subunit differences cannot account for the dichotomous nature of NMDA receptor signaling.     

Inhibition of glutamate transporters couples to Kv4.2 dephosphorylation through activation of extrasynaptic NMDA receptors

Activation of glutamate receptors is known to modulate K⁺ channel surface trafficking, phosphorylation, and function, and increasing evidence has implicated K⁺ channels in plastic changes in glutamatergic synapses. Kv4.2 channels control the amplitude of back-propagating action potentials and shape postsynaptic responses in hippocampus, and synaptic glutamate receptor activation leads to increased phosphorylation of Kv4.2 channels that is associated with enhanced synaptic plasticity. Thus, we investigated the possibility that activation of extrasynaptic NMDA-type glutamate receptors couples to Kv4.2 channel dephosphorylation. In hippocampal neurons, we found that selective activation of extrasynaptic NMDA receptors dephosphorylates Kv4.2 channels, and driving synaptic activity increases phosphorylation of Kv4.2. We also observed that Ca²⁺ entry through NMDA receptors is necessary for dephosphorylation of Kv4.2 channels. Consistent with a synaptic and extrasynaptic localization at hippocampal synapses, a fraction of Kv4.2 channel clusters was found to localize outside of pre- and postsynaptic markers. Excitatory amino acid transporters (EAATs) regulate ambient extracellular glutamate levels that active extrasynaptic NMDA receptors, and inhibition of glutamate uptake by blocking EAATs with the non-selective transporter inhibitor dl-threo-β-benzyloxyaspartic acid (TBOA) or the EAAT1/3 selective inhibitor l-serine O-sulfate (SOS) dephosphorylates Kv4.2 channels. These findings in conjunction with previous reports support the interesting possibility that synaptic and extrasynaptic NMDA receptors bi-directionally regulate phosphorylation levels of Kv4.2 channels in hippocampus. Moreover, we observed that EAAT activity controls extrasynaptic NMDA receptor modulation of Kv4.2 channel dephosphorylation.     

Downregulation of Kv4.2 channels mediated by NR2B-containing NMDA receptors in cultured hippocampal neurons

Somatodendritic Kv4.2 channels mediate transient A-type potassium currents (I_A), and play critical roles in controlling neuronal excitability and modulating synaptic plasticity. Our studies have shown an NMDA receptor-dependent downregulation of Kv4.2 and I_A. NMDA receptors are heteromeric complexes of NR1 combined with NR2A–NR2D, mainly NR2A and NR2B. Here, we investigate NR2B receptor-mediated modulation of Kv4.2 and I_A in cultured hippocampal neurons. Application of glutamate caused a reduction in total Kv4.2 protein levels and Kv4.2 clusters, and produced a hyperpolarized shift in the inactivation curve of I_A. The effects of glutamate on Kv4.2 and I_A were inhibited by pretreatment of NR2B-selective antagonists. NR2B-containing NMDA receptors are believed to be located predominantly extrasynaptically. Like application of glutamate, selective activation of extrasynaptic NMDA receptors caused a reduction in total Kv4.2 protein levels and Kv4.2 clusters, which was also blocked by NR2B-selective antagonists. In contrast, specific stimulation of synaptic NMDA receptors had no effect on Kv4.2. In addition, the influx of Ca²⁺ was essential for extrasynaptic modulation of Kv4.2. Calpain inhibitors prevented the reduction of total Kv4.2 protein levels following activation of extrasynaptic NMDA receptors. These results demonstrate that the glutamate-induced downregulation of Kv4.2 and I_A is mediated by NR2B-containing NMDA receptors and is linked to proteolysis by calpain, which might contribute to the development of neuronal hyperexcitability and neurodegenerative diseases.     

Extrasynaptic NMDARs oppose synaptic NMDARs by triggering CREB shut-off and cell death pathways

Here we report that synaptic and extrasynaptic NMDA (N-methyl-D-aspartate) receptors have opposite effects on CREB (cAMP response element binding protein) function, gene regulation and neuron survival. Calcium entry through synaptic NMDA receptors induced CREB activity and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) gene expression as strongly as did stimulation of L-type calcium channels. In contrast, calcium entry through extrasynaptic NMDA receptors, triggered by bath glutamate exposure or hypoxic/ischemic conditions, activated a general and dominant CREB shut-off pathway that blocked induction of BDNF expression. Synaptic NMDA receptors have anti-apoptotic activity, whereas stimulation of extrasynaptic NMDA receptors caused loss of mitochondrial membrane potential (an early marker for glutamate-induced neuronal damage) and cell death. Specific blockade of extrasynaptic NMDA receptors may effectively prevent neuron loss following stroke and other neuropathological conditions associated with glutamate toxicity.     

Protein kinase CK2 modulates synaptic plasticity by modification of synaptic NMDA receptors in the hippocampus

Synaptic plasticity is the foundation of learning and memory. The protein kinase CK2 phosphorylates many proteins related to synaptic plasticity, but whether it is directly involved in it has not been clarified. Here, we examined the role of CK2 in synaptic plasticity in hippocampal slices using the CK2 selective inhibitors 5,6-dichloro-1-β- d -ribofuranosylbenzimidazole (DRB) and 4,5,6,7-tetrabromobenzotriazole (TBB). These significantly inhibited N -methyl- d -aspartate (NMDA) receptor-dependent long-term potentiation (LTP). DRB also inhibited NMDA receptor-mediated synaptic transmission, while leaving NMDA receptor-independent LTP unaffected. NMDA receptors thus appear to be the primary targets of CK2. Although both long-term depression (LTD) and LTP are induced by the influx of Ca²⁺ through NMDA receptors, surprisingly, LTD was not affected by CK2 inhibitors. We postulated that the LTP-selective modulation by CK2 is due to selective modulation of NMDA receptors, and tested two hypotheses concerning the modulation of NMDA receptors: (i) CK2 selectively modulates NR2A subunits possibly related to LTP, but not NR2B subunits possibly related to LTD; and (ii) CK2 selectively affects synaptic but not extrasynaptic NMDA receptors whose activation is sufficient to induce LTD. DRB decreased NMDA receptor-mediated synaptic transmission in the presence of selective NR2A subunit antagonist. The former hypothesis thus appears unlikely to be correct. However, DRB decreased synaptic NMDA receptor responses in cultured hippocampal neurons without affecting extrasynaptic NMDA receptor current. These findings support the latter hypothesis, that CK2 selectively affects LTP by selective modification of synaptic NMDA receptors in a receptor-location-specific manner.     

Synaptic and extrasynaptic NMDA receptor NR2 subunits in cultured hippocampal neurons

Early in development, neurons only express NR1/NR2B-containing N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptors. Later, NR2A subunits are upregulated during a period of rapid synapse formation. This pattern is often interpreted to indicate that NR2A-containing receptors are synaptic and that NR2B-containing receptors are extrasynaptic. We re-examined this issue using whole cell recordings in cultured hippocampal neurons. As expected, the inhibition of whole cell currents by the NR2B-specific antagonist, ifenprodil, progressively decreased from 69.5 +/- 2.4% [6 days in vitro (DIV)] to 54.9 +/- 2.6% (8 DIV), before reaching a plateau in the second week (42.5 +/- 2%, 12-19 DIV). In NR2A-/- neurons, which express only NR1/NR2B-containing NMDA receptors, autaptic excitatory postsynaptic currents (EPSCs; > or =12 DIV) were more sensitive to ifenprodil and decayed more slowly than EPSCs in wild-type neurons. Thus NR2B-containing receptors were not excluded from synapses. We blocked synaptic NMDA receptors with MK-801 during evoked transmitter release, thus allowing us to isolate extrasynaptic receptors. Ifenprodil inhibition of this extrasynaptic population was highly variable in different neurons. Furthermore, extrasynaptic receptors in autaptic cultures were only partially blocked by ifenprodil, indicating that NR2A-containing receptors are not exclusively confined to the synapse. Extrasynaptic NR2A-containing receptors were also detected in NR2A(-/-) neurons transfected with full-length NR2A. Truncation of the NR2A C terminus did not eliminate synaptic expression of NR2A-containing receptors. Our results indicate that NR2A- and NR2B-containing receptors can be located in either synaptic or extrasynaptic compartments.     

Differential regulation of AMPA receptor GluA1 phosphorylation at serine 831 and 845 associated with activation of NMDA receptor subpopulations

AMPA receptors and NMDA receptors are the main subtypes of ionotropic glutamate receptors in the vertebrate central nervous system. Accumulating evidence demonstrates that two serine sites, S831 and S845, on the AMPA receptor GluA1 subunit, are phosphorylation-regulated and profoundly involved in NMDA receptor-dependent synaptic plasticity. On the other hand, recent studies have revealed distinct functional consequences of activating synaptic or extrasynaptic NMDA receptors, or of activating GluN2A- or GluN2B-containing NMDA receptors. Therefore, it is essential to determine how phosphorylation of the GluA1 at S831 and S845 is regulated by NMDA receptor subpopulations. In this study, we demonstrated transiently increased phosphorylation of GluA1 at S831 and persistently decreased phosphorylation of GluA1 at S845 by bath application of NMDA to hippocampal slices from rats. Interestingly, we also found a differential regulation of phosphorylation of GluA1 at S831 and S845 by activation of NMDA receptor subpopulations: the synaptic and/or the GluN2A-containing NMDA receptors were more likely to mediate up-regulation of GluA1 phosphorylation at S831 and down-regulation of GluA1 phosphorylation at S845, while the extrasynaptic NMDA receptors down-regulated GluA1 phosphorylation at S831. Taken together, our results suggest the NMDA receptor subpopulations differentially regulate GluA1 phosphorylation, which may contribute to NMDA receptor-dependent synaptic plasticity.