Document Detail


Metabotropic glutamate receptor 1 mediates the electrophysiological and toxic actions of the cycad derivative beta-N-Methylamino-L-alanine on substantia nigra pars compacta DAergic neurons.
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  20392940     Owner:  NLM     Status:  MEDLINE    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis-Parkinson dementia complex (ALS-PDC) is a neurodegenerative disease with ALS, parkinsonism, and Alzheimer's symptoms that is prevalent in the Guam population. beta-N-Methylamino alanine (BMAA) has been proposed as the toxic agent damaging several neuronal types in ALS-PDC, including substantia nigra pars compacta dopaminergic (SNpc DAergic) neurons. BMAA is a mixed glutamate receptor agonist, but the specific pathways activated in DAergic neurons are not yet known. We combined electrophysiology, microfluorometry, and confocal microscopy analysis to monitor membrane potential/current, cytosolic calcium concentration ([Ca(2+)](i)) changes, cytochrome-c (cyt-c) immunoreactivity, and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production induced by BMAA. Rapid toxin applications caused reversible membrane depolarization/inward current and increase of firing rate and [Ca(2+)](i) in DAergic neurons. The inward current (I(BMAA)) was mainly mediated by activation of metabotropic glutamate receptor 1 (mGluR1), coupled to transient receptor potential (TRP) channels, and to a lesser extent, AMPA receptors. Indeed, mGluR1 (CPCCOEt) and TRP channels (SKF 96365; Ruthenium Red) antagonists reduced I(BMAA), and a small component of I(BMAA) was reduced by the AMPA receptor antagonist CNQX. Calcium accumulation was mediated by mGluR1 but not by AMPA receptors. Application of a low concentration of NMDA potentiated the BMAA-mediated calcium increase. Prolonged exposure to BMAA caused significant modifications of membrane properties, calcium overload, cell shrinkage, massive cyt-c release into the cytosol and ROS production. In SNpc GABAergic neurons, BMAA activated only AMPA receptors. Our study identifies the mGluR1-activated mechanism induced by BMAA that may cause the neuronal degeneration and parkinsonian symptoms seen in ALS-PDC. Moreover, environmental exposure to BMAA might possibly also contribute to idiopathic PD.
Authors:
Maria Letizia Cucchiaroni; Maria Teresa Viscomi; Giorgio Bernardi; Marco Molinari; Ezia Guatteo; Nicola B Mercuri
Publication Detail:
Type:  In Vitro; Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't    
Journal Detail:
Title:  The Journal of neuroscience : the official journal of the Society for Neuroscience     Volume:  30     ISSN:  1529-2401     ISO Abbreviation:  J. Neurosci.     Publication Date:  2010 Apr 
Date Detail:
Created Date:  2010-04-15     Completed Date:  2010-05-14     Revised Date:  -    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  8102140     Medline TA:  J Neurosci     Country:  United States    
Other Details:
Languages:  eng     Pagination:  5176-88     Citation Subset:  IM    
Affiliation:
Santa Lucia Foundation Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico, 00143 Rome, Italy.
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MeSH Terms
Descriptor/Qualifier:
Action Potentials / drug effects,  physiology
Amino Acids, Diamino / toxicity*
Animals
Calcium / metabolism
Cell Size / drug effects
Cytochromes c / metabolism
Dopamine / metabolism*
Excitatory Amino Acid Agonists / toxicity*
Glutamate Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins / metabolism
Membrane Potentials / drug effects,  physiology
N-Methylaspartate / metabolism
Neurons / drug effects*,  pathology,  physiology
Rats
Rats, Wistar
Reactive Oxygen Species / metabolism
Receptors, AMPA / antagonists & inhibitors,  metabolism
Receptors, Metabotropic Glutamate / metabolism*
Substantia Nigra / drug effects*,  pathology,  physiology
Time Factors
Transient Receptor Potential Channels / antagonists & inhibitors,  metabolism
gamma-Aminobutyric Acid / metabolism
Chemical
Reg. No./Substance:
0/Amino Acids, Diamino; 0/Excitatory Amino Acid Agonists; 0/Glutamate Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins; 0/Reactive Oxygen Species; 0/Receptors, AMPA; 0/Receptors, Metabotropic Glutamate; 0/Transient Receptor Potential Channels; 0/metabotropic glutamate receptor type 1; 16676-91-8/alpha-amino-beta-methylaminopropionate; 56-12-2/gamma-Aminobutyric Acid; 6384-92-5/N-Methylaspartate; 7440-70-2/Calcium; 9007-43-6/Cytochromes c

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