ABSTRACT
Rat cultured cerebellar granule neurons (CGNs) were not sensitive to CuCl2 (1-10 µM, 24 h), whereas paraquat (150 µM) decreased neuronal survival to 79 ± 3% of control level. Simultaneous treatment of CGNs with paraquat and CuCl2 (2, 5, or 10 µM Cu2+/paraquat) caused significant copper dose-dependent death, lowering their survival to 56 ± 4, 37 ± 3, or 16 ± 2%, respectively, and stimulating elevated production of free radicals in CGNs. Introduction of vitamin E, a non-competitive antagonist of NMDA subtype of glutamate receptors (MK-801), and also removal of glutamine from the incubation medium decreased toxicity of Cu2+/paraquat mixture. However, addition of Cu2+ into the incubation medium did not affect CGNs death caused by glutamate. These data emphasize that excessive copper in the brain may trigger oxidative stress, which in turn results in release of glutamate, overstimulation of glutamate receptors, and neuronal death.
Subject(s)
Cerebellum/metabolism , Copper/toxicity , Glutamine/metabolism , Neurons/metabolism , Paraquat/toxicity , Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate/metabolism , Animals , Cell Death/drug effects , Cells, Cultured , Cerebellum/pathology , Dizocilpine Maleate/pharmacology , Neurons/pathology , Oxidative Stress/drug effects , Rats , Rats, WistarABSTRACT
Cultured cerebellar granule neurons (CGNs) are resistant to the toxic effect of ZnCl2 (0.005 mM, 3 h) and slightly sensitive to the effect of kainate (0.1 mM, 3 h). Simultaneous treatment of CGNs with kainate and ZnCl2 caused intensive neuronal death, which was attenuated by external acidosis (pH 6.5) or 5-(N-ethyl-N-isopropyl)amiloride (EIPA, Na+/H+ exchange blocker, 0.03 mM). Intracellular zinc and calcium ion concentrations ([Zn2+]i and [Ca2+]i) were increased under the toxic action of kainate + ZnCl2, this effect being significantly decreased on external acidosis and increased in case of EIPA addition. Neuronal Zn2+ imaging demonstrated that EIPA increases the cytosolic concentration of free Zn2+ on incubation in Zn2+-containing solution. These data imply that acidosis reduces ZnCl2/kainate toxic effects by decreasing Zn2+ entry into neurons, and EIPA prevents zinc stores from being overloaded with zinc.
Subject(s)
Acidosis/metabolism , Amiloride/analogs & derivatives , Neurons/drug effects , Neurons/metabolism , Amiloride/pharmacology , Animals , Calcium/pharmacology , Cations, Divalent , Cell Death/drug effects , Cells, Cultured , Cerebellum/cytology , Cerebellum/drug effects , Cytoplasmic Granules/pathology , Drug Interactions , Kainic Acid/metabolism , Kainic Acid/toxicity , Rats , Rats, Wistar , Receptors, AMPA/metabolism , Receptors, Kainic Acid/metabolism , Sodium-Hydrogen Exchangers/metabolism , Zinc/metabolism , Zinc/toxicityABSTRACT
Disbalance of zinc (Zn2+) and copper (Cu2+) ions in the central nervous system is involved in the pathogenesis of numerous neurodegenerative disorders such as multisystem atrophy, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, Wilson-Konovalov disease, Alzheimer's disease, and Parkinson's disease. Among these, Alzheimer's disease (AD) and Parkinson's disease (PD) are the most frequent age-related neurodegenerative pathologies with disorders in Zn2+ and Cu2+ homeostasis playing a pivotal role in the mechanisms of pathogenesis. In this review we generalized and systematized current literature data concerning this problem. The interactions of Zn2+ and Cu2+ with amyloid precursor protein (APP), ß-amyloid (Abeta), tau-protein, metallothioneins, and GSK3ß are considered, as well as the role of these interactions in the generation of free radicals in AD and PD. Analysis of the literature suggests that the main factors of AD and PD pathogenesis (oxidative stress, structural disorders and aggregation of proteins, mitochondrial dysfunction, energy deficiency) that initiate a cascade of events resulting finally in the dysfunction of neuronal networks are mediated by the disbalance of Zn2+ and Cu2+.
