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Substantia nigra osmoregulation: taurine and ATP involvement
Ingrid Morales1, Jose G Dopico, Magdalena Sabate
1Laboratory of Neurobiology and Experimental Neurology, Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of La Laguna, La Laguna, Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain.
American Journal of Physiology. Cell Physiology
|January 12, 2007
Summary
Glial cells in the substantia nigra release taurine in response to osmotic changes. This osmoregulation involves glutamate and ATP, potentially impacting Parkinson's disease.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Glial Biology
- Neurochemistry
Background:
- A glial-derived extracellular taurine pool exists in the substantia nigra (SN).
- Taurine's inhibitory role in the SN is known, but the function of this nonsynaptic pool is unexplored.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the physiological role of the nonsynaptic taurine pool in the rat SN.
- To explore the influence of local osmolarity on this taurine pool.
Main Methods:
- Microdialysis techniques were employed in the rat SN.
- Local osmolarity was manipulated using hypoosmolar and hyperosmolar pulses.
- The effects of glutamate receptor antagonists (6-cyano-7-nitroquinoxaline-2,3-dionine disodium) and purinergic receptor antagonists (pyridoxalphosphate-6-azophenyl-2',4'-disulfonic acid) were assessed.
- Adenosine triphosphate (ATP) was administered to study purinergic receptor involvement.
Main Results:
- Hypoosmolar pulses increased extrasynaptic taurine in the SN dose-dependently.
- Hyperosmolar pulses decreased extrasynaptic taurine.
- Blockade of AMPA-kainate glutamate receptors and purinergic receptors altered basal taurine levels.
- These receptor antagonists also diminished the taurine response to hypoosmolar stimuli.
- ATP administration modulated basal taurine levels and the response to hypoosmolarity.
Conclusions:
- The nonsynaptic taurine pool in the SN appears to play a role in osmoregulation.
- Glutamatergic and purinergic signaling are involved in mediating the taurine response to osmotic changes.
- This osmoregulatory function may influence neuronal vulnerability in conditions like Parkinson's disease.
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