Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 9, 2026
Author Spotlight: Hypothalamic Neural Mechanism Insights
Published on: August 4, 2023
Effects of Leptin on Na+/Ca2+ Exchanger in PC12 Cells
Zijuan Zhang1, Shuguang Sun, Caixia Du
1Experimental teaching center, Basic Medical College of Henan University of Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou, China.
Background/Aims:
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is known to be related to alterations in neuronal intracellular calcium activity ([Ca2+]i). The present study revealed the distinct role of leptin in Na+/Ca2+-exchanger activity.
Methods:
[Ca2+]i was determined utilizing Fura-2 fluorescence. The activity of NCX was measured by removal of extracellular Na+ in the presence of external Ca2+. Na+/Ca2+-exchanger activity was further quantified from whole cell currents following removal of extracellular Na+. Na+/Ca2+-exchanger isoform NCX1 transcript levels and protein abundance were quantified by RT-PCR and Western blotting, respectively.
Results:
Exposure of PC12 cells to 30 µM amyloid (Aβ42) increased [Ca2+]i, an effect significantly blunted by 6 hours incubation with leptin before Aβ42 treatment. Moreover, leptin treatment significantly increased Na+/Ca2+-exchanger mediated Ca+ transport and current, NCX1 transcript level as well as NCX1 membrane protein abundance.
Conclusion:
We show that leptin blunts Aβ42-evoked [Ca2+]i increase by increasing expression and activity of Na+/Ca2+-exchanger NCX1.
More Related Videos
05:45Experimental Approach to Examine Leptin Signaling in the Carotid Bodies and its Effects on Control of Breathing
Published on: October 25, 2019
13:40Live Cell Calcium Imaging Combined with siRNA Mediated Gene Silencing Identifies Ca2+ Leak Channels in the ER Membrane and their Regulatory Mechanisms
Published on: July 7, 2011
Related Concept Videos
01:27Feedback Regulation of Calcium Concentration
Various transmembrane receptors, such as G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), elicit a response to extracellular signals by increasing cytosolic calcium. Activated GPCRs...
01:24Resting Membrane Potential
The Inside of a Neuron is More Negative
The membrane potential of a cell can be measured by inserting a microelectrode into a cell and comparing the charge to a reference electrode in the extracellular fluid. The...
01:16Calmodulin-dependent Signaling
The Ca2+-CaM complex does not have enzymatic activity by itself. Instead, the complex binds downstream target proteins, including membrane proteins or enzymes,...