Membrane depolarization regulates AMPA receptor subunit expression in cerebellar granule cells in culture

The physiological responses of AMPA receptors can be modulated through the differential expression of their subunits and by modifying their number at the cell surface. Here we have studied the expression of AMPA receptor subunits (GluR1–4) mRNAs in cerebellar granule cells grown in depolarizing (25 mM K+) medium, and we have evaluated the effect of decreasing the [K+] in the culture medium for 24 h on both GluR1–4 expression (both mRNA and protein) and their presence at the plasma membrane. The expression of the four AMPAR subunits increases as the [K+] decreases, although the increase in GluR2 and GluR3 was only observed in the cell soma but not in the dendrites. Calcium entry through L-type calcium channel and CaMKIV activation are responsible for the reduction in the expression of AMPA receptor subunits in cells cultured in depolarizing conditions. Indeed, prolonged reduction of extracellular [K+] or blockage of L-type calcium channels enhanced both the surface insertion of the four AMPAR subunits and the AMPA response measured through intracellular calcium increase. These findings reveal a balanced increase in functional AMPA receptors at the surface of cells that can trigger strong increases in calcium in response to the persistent reduction of calcium entry.

Research Highlights
► Developing rat cerebellar granule cells express the four subunits of AMPARs.
► Culture depolarizing conditions affect the expression of AMPA receptors subunits.
► Intracellular Ca2+ increase downregulates AMPARs expression via CaMKIV activation.
► Reduction of calcium influx increases insertion of AMPAR in the plasma membrane.