The effect of activation of P2X7 receptor on Ca2+ level in lateral midbrain periaqueductal gray neuron / 医学研究生学报

ABSTRACT

Objective The main intracellular signal of P2X7 receptor activation is the increasing of Ca2+, which then presents the diversity of its physiological and pathological functions through multiple intracellular signal transduction. To observe the effect of activation of P2X7 receptor on intracellular calcium（Ca2+）level in lateral midbrain periaqueductal gray (lPAG) neurons of primary cultured rat. Methods The primary cultured lPAG neurons were randomly divided into 4 groups control group(no drug added), only for control; BzATP group(100 μmol/L); A-740003+ BzATP group(incubate with 100 nmol/L A-740003 for 10 min, then add 10 μmol/L ofBzATP); BzATP control group(add in Ca2+-free solution for 20 min, then add BzATP). The incubation solution of control group, BzATP group and A-740003+ BzATP group are DMEM/F12 medium, and the BzATP control group is Ca2+-free. The laser scanning confocal microscopy (LSCM) was used to detect the changes of cultured neuron Ca2+ levels by different concentrations of BzATP; the effects of A-740003 and Ca2+-free medium preincubation on BzATP-induced Ca2+ level alterations in cultured neurons. Results BzATP dose-dependently increased the Ca2+ levels in cultured lPAG neurons; A-740003 and Ca2+-free medium inhibited the BzATP-induced increasing of Ca2+ level in cultured lPAG neurons. LSCM showed The intracellular calcium fluorescence insensity(2.48±1.05) in the BzATP group was significantly higher than that in the blank control group, BzATP control group and A-740003+ BzATP group[(1.12±0.03), (1.09±0.03), (1.14±0.08)](P<0.01). Conclusion The activation of P2X7 receptor can increase the level of lPAG neurons Ca2+ , and is associated with the extracellular Ca2+ influx.