Astrocytes Express N-Methyl-D-Aspartate Receptor Subunits in Development, Ischemia and Post-Ischemia

作者：Zhou, Ye; Li, Hui Li; Zhao, Rui; Yang, Li Tao; Dong, Yan; Yue, Xin; Ma, Yao Ying; Wang, Zhuo; Chen, Jianguo; Cui, Cai Lian; Yu, Albert Cheung-Hoi^*

来源：Neurochemical Research, 2010, 35(12): 2124-2134.

DOI：10.1007/s11064-010-0325-x

• NOS1
• MK-801
• NR1
• NR2

The expression of the N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDA-R) in astrocytes is controversial. The receptor is commonly considered neuron-specific. We showed that astrocytes in primary cultures differentially expressed mRNA of NMDA-R subunits, NR1, NR2A and NR2B, in development, ischemia and post-ischemia. One-week-old cultures expressed detectable NR1 mRNA, which fell significantly at 2 weeks and became barely detectable at 4 weeks. NR2A and NR2B mRNA were both significantly up-regulated from 1 to 2 weeks. In 4 weeks, 2 h of ischemia caused a significant up-regulation of NR1 and NR2B mRNA; while 6 h caused down-regulation of NR2A mRNA. Under 3 h of post-ischemia, only NR1 mRNA was increased. Ischemia induced the expression of major NMDA-R effecter, nitric oxide synthase 1, which was unaffected by AMPA-R antagonist CNQX, but dose-dependently inhibited by NMDA-R specific antagonist MK-801. These findings reflected that astrocyte could express inducible functional NMDA receptors without the presence of neurons.

• 出版日期2010-12
• 单位北京大学