Effect of dexmedetomidine on expression of NR1 subunit-containing NMDA receptors and GluR2 subunit-containing AMPA receptors during hypoxic injury to rat hippocampal neurons / 中华麻醉学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To evaluate the effect of dexmedetomidine on the expression of NR1 subunit-containing NMDA receptors and GIuR2 subunit-containing AMPA receptors during hypoxic injury to rat hippocampal neurons.Methods The hippocampal neurons were isolated from Wistar rats within 24 h after birth and divided into 3 groups (n=24 each) using a random number tablecontrol group (group C),hypoxia group (group H) and dexmedetomidine group (group D).The cells were subjected to hypoxia for 6 h to establish the model of neuronal hypoxic injury in H and D groups.In group D,0.1 μmol/L dexmedetomidine was added at 6 h of hypoxia and neurons were incubated for 3 h,and then the culture medium was replaced with a normal medium and neurons were incubated for 24 h.The neuronal viability was measured by CCK-8 assay,the leakage of LDH was detected,and the leakage rate was calculated.The expression of NR1 subunits-containing NMDA receptors and GluR2 subunits-containing AMPA receptors was detected by Western blot.The concentration of calcium ion in cytoplasm was measured using Fluo-3AM.Results Compared with group C,the neuronal viability was significantly decreased,the LDH leakage rate was increased,the expression of NR1 subunits-containing NMDA receptors in the membrane was up-regulated,the expression of GluR2 subunits-containing AMPA receptors was down-regulated,and the concentration of calcium ion in cytoplasm was increased in H and D groups (P＜0.05).Compared with group H,the neuronal viability was significantly increased,the LDH leakage rate was decreased,the expression of NR1 subunits-containing NMDA receptors in the membrane was down-regulated,the expression of GluR2 subunitscontaining AMPA receptors was up-regulated,and the concentration of calcium ion in cytoplasm was decreased in group D (P＜0.05).Conclusion The mechanism by which dexmedetomidine reduces hypoxic injury to rat hippocampal neurons may be related to inhibiting up-regulation of the expression of NR1 subunits-containing NMDA receptors in the membrane and down-regulation of the expression of GluR2 subunitscontaining AMPA receptors.