Cellular defence mechanisms in the striatum of young and aged rats subchronically exposed to manganese.

A deficiency of striatal dopamine (DA) is generally accepted as an expression of manganese (Mn) toxicity in experimental animals. Since compromised cellular defence mechanisms may be involved in Mn neurotoxicity, we investigated the response of the neuronal antioxidant system [ascorbic acid (AA) oxidation, glutathione (GSH) and uric acid levels] and neurochemical changes in the striatum in aged rats exposed to Mn. Levels of dopamine (DA), dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC), homovanillic acid (HVA), 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT), 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA), AA, dehydroascorbic acid (DHAA), GSH and uric acid were determined after subchronic oral exposure to MnCl2 200 mg/kg (3-month-old rats) and 30-100-200 mg/kg (20-month-old-rats). Aged rats had basal levels of striatal DA, DOPAC, HVA, 5-HT, 5-HIAA, GSH and AA lower than those of young rats. In the striatum of aged rats, Mn induced biphasic changes in the levels of DA, DOPAC, HVA (an increase at the lower dose and a decrease at the higher dose) and DHAA (opposite changes). Mn decreased GSH levels and increased uric acid levels both in the striatum and in synaptosomes in all groups of aged rats. All of these parameters were affected to a lesser extent in young rats. In conclusion, the response of cellular defence mechanisms in aged rats is consistent with a Mn-induced increase in the formation of reactive oxygen species. An age-related impairment of the neuronal antioxidant system may play an enabling role in Mn neurotoxicity.

Autoradiographic localization of alpha5 subunit-containing GABAA receptors in rat brain.

Multiple subtypes of GABAA receptors are expressed in the rat central nervous system (CNS). To determine the distribution and proportion of alpha5 subunit containing receptors, quantitative autoradiographic analyses were performed with both [3H]L-655,708 and [3H]Ro15-1788, an alpha5 selective and a non selective benzodiazepine binding site ligand, respectively. High densities of [3H]L-655,708 binding sites were observed in hippocampus and olfactory bulb, where alpha5 receptors accounted for 20-35% of total [3H]Ro15-1788 binding sites. Low levels of [3H]L-655,708 sites were associated with the cortex as well as amygdala, thalamic, hypothalamic and midbrain nuclei. These observations indicate that although [3H]L-655,708 binding sites have an overall low expression in rat CNS, they may contribute significantly to GABAergic inhibition in specific brain regions.

Effect of morphine on striatal dopamine metabolism and ascorbic and uric acid release in freely moving rats.

Recent ex vivo findings have shown that morphine increases dopamine (DA) and xanthine oxidative metabolism and ascorbic acid (AA) oxidation in the rat striatum. In the present study, we evaluated the effects of subcutaneous daily morphine (20 mg/kg) administration on DA, dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC), homovanillic acid (HVA), AA and uric acid in the striatum of freely moving rats using microdialysis. Dialysates were assayed by high performance liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection. On the first day, morphine administration caused a significant increase in extracellular DA, DOPAC, HVA, AA and uric acid concentrations over a 3 h period after morphine. In all treated rats (n = 7), individual concentrations of DOPAC + HVA were directly correlated with individual AA and uric acid concentrations. Last morphine administration on the 4th day increased DOPAC, HVA, AA and uric acid concentrations but failed to increase those of DA. Individual DOPAC + HVA concentrations were still directly correlated with individual AA and uric acid concentrations. These results suggest that systemic morphine increases both striatal DA release and DA and xanthine oxidative metabolism. Only the former effect undergoes tolerance. The increase in DA oxidative metabolism is highly correlated with that of xanthine. The subsequent enhancement in reactive oxygen species production may account for the increase in extracellular AA.

Effects of morphine treatment and withdrawal on striatal and limbic monoaminergic activity and ascorbic acid oxidation in the rat.

Since ascorbic acid (AA) reportedly suppresses tolerance to and dependence on morphine in humans and rodents, levels of dopamine (DA), dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC), homovanillic acid (HVA), 3-methoxytyramine (3-MT), 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT), 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA), AA, dehydroascorbic acid (DHAA), uric acid, xanthine, hypoxanthine, glutamate and gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) were determined by high-pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) in the striatum and in the limbic forebrain of the rat following morphine treatment (single or repeated) and withdrawal. Single morphine administration (20 mg/kg s.c.) increased DOPAC + HVA/DA, 5-HIAA/5-HT and DHAA/AA ratios, uric acid levels, and decreased xanthine, hypoxanthine, glutamate and GABA levels in both regions. 3-MT levels were decreased in the striatum and increased in the limbic forebrain. After 7 days of morphine treatment, striatal DOPAC + HVA/DA and DHAA/AA ratios and uric acid levels were still higher and striatal and limbic xanthine levels still lower than in controls, while all other parameters were in the range of control values in both regions. Morphine treatment also increased the glutamate/GABA ratio in the striatum. In all morphine-treated rats, individual striatal DOPAC + HVA/DA and DHAA/AA ratio values were directly correlated. After a 48 h withdrawal period, both striatal AA oxidation and glutamate/GABA ratio further increased; limbic 3-MT levels further decreased, while all other parameters did not differ from control values. We conclude that: (i) tolerance to morphine-induced increase in hypoxanthine, xanthine and AA oxidation develops in the limbic forebrain faster than in the striatum; (ii) the morphine-induced increase in striatal and limbic AA oxidation may be considered a consequence of increased formation of reactive oxygen species due to increased DA, hypoxanthine and xanthine oxidative metabolism; (iii) a striatal excitotoxic imbalance characterizes the withdrawal state and may be taken into account to explain the further increase in striatal AA oxidation.

Further investigations into the relationship between the dopaminergic system, ascorbic acid and uric acid in the rat striatum.

Levels of dopamine (DA), 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC), ascorbic acid (AA), dehydroascorbic acid (DHAA), and uric acid were determined in the rat striatum following single apomorphine (1 mg/kg), scopolamine (0.6 mg/kg), pilocarpine (4 mg/kg), or pilocarpine + scopolamine (4 and 0.6 mg/kg, respectively) injections. The decrease in DOPAC levels and in the DOPAC/DA ratio, induced by the pharmacological manipulation, was linearly correlated with the increase in DHAA levels (r = -0.9060, P less than 0.05) and with the increase in the DHAA/AA ratio (r = -0.9004, P less than 0.05), respectively. It is concluded that dopaminergic activation or cholinergic inhibition both increase striatal AA oxidation, which is correlated with a decrease in DA turnover.

Effects of cortical ablation on apomorphine- and scopolamine-induced changes in dopamine turnover and ascorbic acid catabolism in the rat striatum.

Levels of dopamine (DA), 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC), ascorbic acid and dehydroascorbic acid (DHAA) were measured by HPLC in the striatum of rats whose fronto-parietal cortex had been unilaterally ablated after a single injection of apomorphine (1 mg/kg s.c.), scopolamine (0.6 mg/kg s.c.) or L-glutamate (500 mg/kg i.p.). Unilateral cortical ablation decreased striatal levels of glutamate in both striata ipsilateral (35%) and contralateral (17-25%) to the lesion. Apomorphine and scopolamine significantly increased (+94 and +122%, respectively) the DHAA/ascorbic acid ratio in the striata ipsilateral to the lesion in unoperated and sham-operated rats (+72 and +34%, respectively), but both drugs failed to increase it in ablated rats. L-Glutamate significantly increased the DHAA/ascorbic acid ratio in unoperated (+53%) and ablated rats (+37%). The increase in sham-operated rats (+34%) did not reach statistical significance. Apomorphine and scopolamine significantly decreased the DOPAC/DA ratio in the striata ipsilateral to the lesion of unoperated, sham-operated and ablated rats. The decrease in the DOPAC/DA ratio induced by apomorphine and scopolamine was greater in ablated rats than in sham-operated rats. L-Glutamate induced only minor changes in striatal DA and DOPAC levels. We conclude that the apomorphine- and scopolamine-induced increase in ascorbic acid oxidation in the striatum requires intact cortico-striatal glutamatergic pathways. Cortical ablation potentiates the apomorphine- and scopolamine-induced inhibition of striatal DA turnover.

Investigations into the relationship between the dopaminergic system and ascorbic acid in rat striatum.

Levels of dopamine (DA), 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC), ascorbic acid (AA) and dehydroascorbic acid (DHAA) were determined by HPLC in the striatum of male Wistar rats after single or repeated injections of apomorphine (1 mg/kg/day s.c.) and/or haloperidol (1 mg/kg/day i.p.), and 24 h after the last drug administration. Apomorphine significantly reduced the DOPAC/DA ratio and increased the DHAA/AA ratio; these ratio changes were significantly correlated (r = -0.9969, P less than 0.0005). Haloperidol greatly increased the DOPAC/DA ratio; the DHAA/AA ratio was also slightly increased, but there was no significant correlation. When apomorphine was associated with haloperidol, the resulting DOPAC/DA ratio was significantly lower than after haloperidol alone; the DHAA/AA ratio was also significantly reduced in contrast to the effect of apomorphine alone. It is concluded that a non-selective DA receptor activation mediates, in a correlated way, both the inhibition of DA turnover and the increase of AA oxidation in the rat striatum.

The effects of cortical ablation on d-amphetamine-induced changes in striatal dopamine turnover and ascorbic acid catabolism in the rat.

Dopamine (DA), 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC), ascorbic acid (AA) and dehydroascorbic acid (DHAA) levels were determined by HPLC in the striatal synaptosomal fraction and in the whole striatum of rats, whose fronto-parietal cortex had been bilaterally ablated, after a single injection of d-amphetamine (2.0 mg/kg i.p.). d-Amphetamine significantly increased the DHAA/AA ratio in unoperated and sham-operated rats, but failed to increase it in ablated rats, as compared to pertinent saline-treated groups. In the synaptosomal fraction, d-amphetamine significantly decreased the DHAA/AA ratio in unoperated, sham-operated and ablated rats. d-Amphetamine significantly decreased the DOPAC/DA ratio in the whole striatum and significantly increased it in the striatal synaptosomal fraction in all experimental groups. Cortical ablation greatly increased d-amphetamine-induced motor hyperactivity. We conclude that the d-amphetamine-induced increase in AA striatal oxidation requires integrity of the cortico-striatal glutamatergic pathways. Further, AA oxidation occurs in the extracellular space. The cortico-striatal glutamatergic pathways exert an inhibitory modulation on d-amphetamine behavioral effects.

Allopurinol protects against manganese-induced oxidative stress in the striatum and in the brainstem of the rat.

Levels of uric acid, xanthine, hypoxanthine, ascorbic acid (AA), dehydroascorbic acid, glutathione (GSH), noradrenaline (NA), dopamine (DA), dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC), homovanillic acid (HVA) and and 3-methoxytyramine were determined in the striatum and/or in the brainstem of 3-month-old male Wistar rats given manganese (MnCl2, 200 mg/kg/day for 7 days by gavage) alone or associated with allopurinol. Allopurinol alone (300 mg/kg/day for 4 days by gavage) decreased uric acid and increased xanthine levels both in the striatum and in the brainstem; moreover, allopurinol decreased the striatal DOPAC + HVA/DA ratio. Allopurinol antagonised the Mn-induced: (a) increase in the DOPAC + HVA/DA ratio; (b) increase in uric acid levels and AA oxidation; and (c) decrease in GSH and NA levels. We conclude that allopurinol may protect against Mn-induced oxidative stress by inhibiting both DA oxidative metabolism and xanthine oxidase-mediated formation of reactive oxygen species.

Correlation between 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium ion (MPP+) levels, ascorbic acid oxidation and glutathione levels in the striatal synaptosomes of the 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP)-treated rat.

In 6-month-old male Wistar rats, levels of dopamine (DA), dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC), ascorbic acid (AA), dehydroascorbic acid (DHAA), uric acid, glutathione (GSH) and 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium ion (MPP+) were determined by HPLC in the crude striatal synaptosomal fraction after single injections of MPTP 35 mg/kg i.p. 1-Methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) induced a 32.5% death rate within 15 min to 10 h. Groups of surviving rats were sacrificed 1, 3, 8 and 24 h after MPTP. MPTP significantly increased levels of DHAA and uric acid and decreased levels of DOPAC and GSH. Individual synaptosomal levels of MPP+ were correlated inversely with DOPAC (r = -0.601, P < 0.002) and GSH levels (r = -0.496, P < 0.02) and directly with levels of uric acid (r = +0.627, P < 0.001); these latter, in turn, were correlated with DHAA (r = +0.418, P < 0.05) and GSH levels (r = -0.357, P = 0.07). In conclusion, the response of the endogenous antioxidant system (increase in AA oxidation, decrease in GSH levels) correlates well with the MPTP-induced increase in uric acid levels and provides further evidence for a mechanism of MPTP neurotoxicity involving oxidative stress produced by xanthine oxidase.

Effects of ageing on 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) neurotoxic effects on striatum and brainstem in the rat.

In 3- and 18-month-old male Wistar rats, levels of dopamine (DA), dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC), ascorbic acid (AA), dehydroascorbic acid (DHAA), noradrenaline (NA), uric acid, glutathione (GSH) and 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium ion (MPP+) were determined by HPLC in the striatum and/or in the brainstem 24 h after single injections of MPTP (12-35 mg/kg i.p.). Aged rats had lower baseline levels of AA and GSH, compared to young rats. In aged rats, MPTP 35 mg/kg induced a 70% death rate and a decrease in striatal DOPAC/DA ratio which was significantly correlated to MPP+ concentrations (r = -0.840, P < 0.005); in addition, MPTP did not increase AA oxidation. In the brainstem, the MPTP-induced decrease in NA levels and increase in uric acid levels were significantly correlated to the MPP+ concentrations (r = -0.709, P < 0.05, and r = +0.888, P < 0.001, respectively). In conclusion, evidence is given of a mechanism of toxicity of MPTP involving oxidative stress produced by xanthine oxidase; in addition, in aged rats the neuronal antioxidant system (levels of AA and GSH) is considerably lower than in young rats and may play an enabling role in the MPTP age-related neurotoxic effects on striatum and brainstem.

Monoaminergic systems activity and cellular defense mechanisms in the brainstem of young and aged rats subchronically exposed to manganese.

In 3- and 20-month-old male Wistar rats, levels of noradrenaline (NA), dopamine (DA), 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT), 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA), ascorbic acid (AA), dehydroascorbic acid (DHAA), uric acid and glutathione (GSH) were determined by HPLC in the brainstem after subchronic oral exposure to MnCl2 200 mg/kg (3-month-old) and 30-100-200 mg/kg (20-month-old). In aged rats, manganese (Mn) significantly decreased levels of NA, DA and GSH and increased 5-HIAA/5-HT ratio values and DHAA and uric acid levels. All these parameters were scarcely affected in young rats. In aged rats, individual total Mn doses/rat were inversely correlated with individual DA levels (r = -0.405) and GSH levels (r = -0.450). In conclusion, Mn induces changes in markers of monoaminergic systems activity in the brainstem of aged rats considerably greater than in young rats. The increase in AA oxidation and decrease in GSH levels are consistent with a Mn-induced increase in formation of reactive oxygen species. The increase in uric acid levels provides evidence that one of these species might arise from the activity of xanthine-oxidase on uric acid precursors.

Cortical ablation and drug-induced changes in striatal ascorbic acid oxidation and behavior in the rat.

Rats whose frontoparietal cortex had been bilaterally ablated were allowed 21 days for recovery and then treated with apomorphine (APO), 1 mg/kg SC or scopolamine (SCOP), 0.6 mg/kg SC. Soon after a behavioral test, dopamine (DA), 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC), ascorbic acid (AA), and dehydroascorbic acid (DHAA) levels were determined by HPLC/EC in striatal synaptosomes (left side) and whole striatum (right side). SCOP behavioural effects were attenuated by cortical ablation, while those of APO were affected to a lesser extent. In the striatum of unoperated and sham-operated rats DHAA contents and DHAA/AA ratio resulted increased after drugs administration. No change in AA oxidation was observed in the striatum of ablated rats. In the synaptosomes of unoperated and sham-operated rats both drugs led to a decrease in DHAA contents and DHAA/AA ratio. In unoperated and sham-operated rats APO and SCOP caused a decrease of the DOPAC/DA ratio in the whole striatum and striatal synaptosomes. In ablated rats APO caused a decrease of DOPAC/DA ratio in the whole striatum and synaptosomes, while SCOP effects on DA turnover resulted attenuated in the whole striatum and abolished in synaptosomes. We conclude that drug-induced AA oxidation is likely to occur in the extracellular space and requires intact corticostriatal glutamatergic pathways. The latter may play an enabling role in SCOP behavioral effects.

Neuronal antioxidant system and MPTP-induced oxidative stress in the striatum and brain stem of the rat.

Levels of ascorbic acid (AA), dehydroascorbic acid (DHAA), glutathione (GSH), uric acid, dopamine (DA), dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC), homovanillic acid (HVA), 3-methoxytyramine (3-MT), noradrenaline (NA), 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP), and 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium ion (MPP+) were determined in the striatum, striatal synaptosomes, and/or brain stem of 3- and 6-month-old male Wistar rats given MPTP 35-52 mg/kg IP. In older rats, MPTP 35 mg/kg caused a 38% death rate within 15 min-12 h. Levels of MPTP and MPP+ in the striatum, synaptosomes, and brain stem were directly correlated with the absolute MPTP dose/rat. MPTP decreased striatal DA metabolites and NA levels in the striatum and brain stem, and increased uric acid levels in all regions in all rats. All these changes were significantly correlated with MPP+ levels. GSH levels were increased in younger rats and decreased in older rats. AA oxidation was increased mainly in older rats. We conclude that acute lethality and regional brain MPTP and MPP+ levels depend upon the absolute dose of MPTP/rat rather than the relative dose/kg. In younger rats, the neuronal antioxidant GSH system is more efficient than in older rats, in which the response to MPP(+)-induced oxidative stress also involves AA oxidation. The increase in uric acid levels provides further evidence for a mechanism of MPTP neurotoxicity involving oxidative stress mediated by xanthine oxidase.

Further investigation of allopurinol effects on MPTP-induced oxidative stress in the striatum and brain stem of the rat.

Levels of uric acid, xanthine, hypoxanthine, ascorbic acid (AA), dehydroascorbic acid (DHAA), glutathione (GSH), noradrenaline (NA), dopamine (DA), dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC), homovanillic acid (HVA), 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT), 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA) 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) and 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium ion (MPP+) were determined in the striatum and/or in the brain stem of 3-month-old male Wistar rats given allopurinol (300 mg/kg day by gavage) for 3 days before a single MPTP 35 mg/kg dose IP. Allopurinol alone decreased uric acid and increased xanthine levels both in the striatum and in the brain stem; moreover, allopurinol decreased striatal DOPAC + HVA/DA ratio and increased 5-HIAA/5HT ratio in the brainstem. Allopurinol affected neither regional MPTP nor MPP+ disposition. Allopurinol potentiated the MPTP-induced decrease in the DOPAC+HVA/DA ratio and increase in striatal AA oxidation; in addition, allopurinol antagonised the MPTP-induced: (i) increase in uric acid levels; (ii) decrease in NA levels in both regions, in DA levels, and in the 5-HIAA/5-HT ratio in the brain stem: (iii) increase in AA oxidation in the brain stem. In conclusion, the MPP(+)-induced oxidative stress mediated by xanthine oxidase seems to be involved in DA depletion in the brainstem and in NA depletion in both regions; moreover, striatal uric acid may have an active role in the neuronal antioxidant pool.

[Cadmium-induced changes in the activity of the dopaminergic and purinergic systems and in ascorbic acid catabolism in the rat striatum]. / Modificazioni da cadmio dell'attività dei sistemi dopaminergico e purinergico e del catabolismo dell'acido ascorbico nello striato del ratto.

Levels of dopamine (DA), 3-4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC), ascorbic acid (AA), dehydroascorbic acid (DHAA), uric acid (UA) and adenosine (ADO), were determined by HPLC in the striatum of male Wistar rats treated with repeated injections of cadmium (as sulfate) 3 mg/kg/day s.c. for 10 consecutive days. Cadmium treatment significantly reduced DOPAC levels with consequent decrease of the DOPAC/DA ratio; AA levels were significantly reduced, while DHAA levels were significantly increased, with consequent increase of DHAA/AA ratio: levels of UA and ADO were both significantly increased. It is concluded that cadmium, given systemically, reduces dopaminergic system activity in the rat striatum; such impairment occurs together with an increase of AA oxidation and of markers of purinergic system activity. The inhibition of striatal dopaminergic activity could be considered the neurochemical basis of behavioral changes induced by cadmium, while the increase of AA oxidation and of purinergic system activity could be considered an antitoxic metabolic response.

Tobacco smoke affects expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma in monocyte/macrophages of patients with coronary heart disease.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Tobacco smoke represents a relevant risk factor for coronary heart disease (CHD). Although peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR)gamma activation reduces inflammation and atherosclerosis, expression of PPARgamma in cells and its modulation by smoking are poorly investigated. We previously reported that monocyte/macrophages from healthy smokers exhibited an enhanced constitutive expression of PPARgamma. Here, we evaluated PPARgamma expression and basal cytokine release in monocytes and monocyte-derived macrophages (MDMs) from 85 CHD patients, classified by their smoking habit (smokers, non-smokers and ex-smokers), and assessed the role of PPARgamma ligands in this context. EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH: PPARgamma protein was detected by Western blot and semi-quantified by PPARgamma/beta-actin ratio; cytokine release was measured by elisa and nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB) translocation by electrophoretic mobility shift assays. KEY RESULTS: As compared to the other groups, MDMs from smoker CHD patients exhibited a reduced PPARgamma/beta-actin ratio and an increased spontaneous release of tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and interleukin-6, but with no major variations in monocytes. In cells from selected CHD patients, rosiglitazone inhibited TNF-alpha release and NF-kappaB translocation induced by phorbol-12-myristate 13-acetate. The selective PPARgamma antagonist GW9662 reversed these effects, with some variations related to smoking habit. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS: In CHD patients, exposure to tobacco smoke profoundly affected PPARgamma expression, and this was related to levels of secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines. MDMs from CHD smokers showed the lowest PPARgamma expression and released more inflammatory cytokines. Moreover, rosiglitazone's ability to inhibit cytokine release and its reversal by GW9662 clearly indicated PPARgamma involvement in these changes in CHD patients.

Plasma membrane calcium ATPase isoforms in astrocytes.

The plasma membrane Ca(2+)-ATPase (PMCA) is an essential component of the machinery responsible for cellular Ca(2+) homeostasis. Together with the Na(+)/Ca(2+) exchanger, the plasma membrane Ca(2+)-ATPase (PMCA) is responsible for the extrusion of Ca(2+) from the cytosol. Although both PMCAs and Na(+)/Ca(2+) exchangers are present in high amounts in the brain, it is thought that only the latter localize to glia. This study investigates whether PMCAs are also present in astrocytes and thus are components of Ca(2+) signalling in this cell type. Membrane proteins and mRNA were isolated from primary cultures of rat cortical astrocytes and C6 glioma cells. PMCA isoforms were investigated with isoform specific antibodies and the splice variant pattern was studied in RT-PCR experiments using specific oligonucleotides. The PMCA1, 2, and 4 isoforms were detected in rat cortical astrocytes, whereas only PMCA1 and 2 were found in C6 cells. While neurons express both the CI and CII splice variants, only the splice variant CI of PMCA1, 2, and 4 was detected in astrocytes. Thus, the PMCA pump is present in mammalian glial cells. These results also show that the amounts of PMCA1 and 4 isoforms in astrocytes are comparable to those found in neurons. In contrast, astrocytes contain smaller amounts of PMCA2. Furthermore, PMCA2 and PMCA4 underwent an evident time dependent up-regulation in astrocytes cultured in vitro.

Dopaminergic system activity and cellular defense mechanisms in the striatum and striatal synaptosomes of the rat subchronically exposed to manganese.

In 6-month-old male Wistar rats, levels of dopamine (DA), dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC), ascorbic acid (AA), dehydroascorbic acid (DHAA), uric acid and glutathione (GSH) were determined by HPLC in the striatum and striatal synaptosomes after subchronic oral exposure to MnCl2 50-100-150 mg/kg. Mn significantly decreased levels of DA and GSH and increased levels of DHAA and uric acid both in the striatum and synaptosomes. In synaptosomes, individual total Mn doses/rat were directly correlated with individual DOPAC/DA ratio values (r = +0.647), uric acid (r = +0.532) and DHAA levels (r = +0.889) and inversely correlated with DA (r = -0.757) and GSH levels (r = -0.608). In turn, GSH levels were inversely correlated with uric acid (r = -0.451) and DHAA levels (r = -0.460). In conclusion, the response of striatal cellular defense mechanisms (increase in AA oxidation, decrease in GSH levels) correlated well with changes in markers of dopaminergic system activity and increase in uric acid levels. The latter provides evidence of an Mn-induced oxidative stress mediated by xanthine oxidase.

Glutathione deficiency potentiates manganese-induced increases in compounds associated with high-energy phosphate degradation in discrete brain areas of young and aged rats.

Aging is a factor known to increase neuronal vulnerability to oxidative stress, which is widely accepted as a mechanism of manganese-induced neuronal damage. We previously showed that subchronic exposure to manganese induced greater energy impairment (as revealed by increases in hypoxanthine, xanthine and uric acid levels) in the striatum and brainstem of aged rats vs young rats. This study shows that inhibition of glutathione (GSH) synthesis, by means of buthionine (SR) sulfoximine, decreased GSH levels and increased the ascorbic acid oxidation status in the striatum and limbic forebrain of both young and aged rats. In addition, inhibition of GSH synthesis greatly potentiated the manganese-induced increase in inosine, hypoxanthine, xanthine and uric acid levels in both regions of aged rats; moreover, inhibition of GSH synthesis significantly increased inosine, hypoxanthine, xanthine and uric acid levels in both regions of young rats, compared with the manganese-treated group. These results suggest that an impairment in the neuronal antioxidant system renders young rats susceptible to manganese-induced energetic impairment, and further support the hypothesis that an impairment in this system plays a permissive role in the increase of neuronal vulnerability that occurs with aging.