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Updated: Aug 24, 2026
Measurement of Total Calcium in Neurons by Electron Probe X-ray Microanalysis
Published on: November 20, 2013
[Changes in Ca2+ concentration mediated by N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor in PO/AH neurons of anoxic SD rats]
Qing-ping Zhao1, Fei Zou, Guang-zhong Chen
1Department of Neurosurgery, Zhujiang Hospital, First Military Medical University, Guangzhou 510282, China.
Objective:
To study the changes of Ca2+ concentration mediated by N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor in the neurons in the preoptic area/anterior hypothalamus (PO/AH) of anoxic SD rats by investigating the properties of NMDA receptor.
Methods:
The effects of NMDA receptor agonist NMDA and antagonist vaproic acid (VPA) on the [Ca2+]i in PO/AH neurons were observed in SD rats with anoxia.
Results:
Under normal condition, the fluorescencet ratio was 0.95, which increased obviously in response to treatment with NMDA at 40 s and reached the peak value, 2.054, after 25 s with an increment of (109+/-52) %. After the addition of the agonist, the peak value reached 3.783 in 30 s and maintained the high level. The concentration of Ca2+ increased by (286+/-91) % after the treatment with NMDA. While in the anoxia group, the concentration of Ca2+ decreased by (103+/-45)% after the addition of VPA.
Conclusions:
The increase in the concentration of Ca2+ results predominantly from the opening of NMDA receptor channel which allows Ca2+ influx. VPA may decrease the activity of NMDA receptor to reduce the Ca2+ concentration for the protection of the neurons against anoxia.
