Article ID | Journal | Published Year | Pages | File Type |
---|---|---|---|---|
9916215 | Neurochemistry International | 2005 | 7 Pages |
Abstract
In nerve terminals, vesicular transporters pack neurotransmitters into synaptic vesicles, which is an essential prerequisite for transmitter release. To date, three distinct families of vesicular transporters have been identified which are specific for (a) excitatory amino acids (glutamate and aspartate), (b) inhibitory amino acids (GABA and glycine) and (c) acetylcholine and monoamines. The present study evaluated the effect of transient focal cerebral ischemia on the expression of these vesicular transporters in adult rat brain. Ischemia was induced by a 1Â h transient middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) in spontaneously hypertensive rats. At various reperfusion periods (3-72Â h), mRNA levels of the vesicular transporters were estimated in the contralateral and the ipsilateral cerebral cortex by real-time PCR analysis. Following transient focal ischemia, mRNA expression of the vesicular GABA transporter (VGAT) decreased significantly by 3Â h of reperfusion and remained at a significantly lower level than sham until at least 72Â h of reperfusion. Western blotting showed a significant decrease in the VGAT immunoreactive protein levels in the ipsilateral cortex of rats subjected to focal ischemia and 24Â h reperfusion. Immunohistochemistry demonstrated many VGAT immunopositive puncta in the contralateral cortex, which were significantly decreased in the ipsilateral cortex at 24Â h reperfusion. Focal ischemia had no effect on the mRNA levels of the vesicular transporters specific for glutamate/aspartate, acetylcholine and monoamines at either 6Â h or 24Â h of reperfusion.
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Authors
Raghu Vemuganti,