Acidosis-induced metallothionein (MT) mRNA expression in neonatal rat primary astrocyte cultures

Metallothionein (MT) mRNA levels were determined following exposure of neonatal rat primary astrocyte cultures to acidosis. Astrocyte total RNA was probed on northern blots with [alpha 32 P]dCTP-labeled synthetic cDNA probes specific for rat MT isoform mRNAs. The probe for MT-I mRNA hybridized to a single mRNA with a size appropriate for MT, approximately 550 nucleotides. MT-I mRNA levels in astrocyte monolayers exposed to pH 6.5 and 6.0 for 3 or 6 hours were unchanged compared with MT-I mRNA levels in control cultures exposed to pH 7.4. In contrast, 9 hour exposure of astrocytes to pH 6.5 and 6.0 led to a significant increase in MT-I mRNA transcripts compared with controls maintained at pH 7.4 (p < 0.001 and p < 0.02, respectively). A probe for MT-II mRNA that hybridizes to a single mRNA (450 nucleotides) was also used to determine the effect of acidosis on astrocyte MT-II mRNA transcripts. Although statistical significance was not attained, a similar trend was noted, with a 9 hour exposure to pH of 6.5 and 6.0 resulting in increased astrocytic expression MT-II mRNA compared with control cells maintained at pH 7.4. Acidosis was also associated with a pH-dependent increase in astrocytic volume. Accordingly, acidosis is invoked as an added stimulus to stress factors associated with the induction of astrocytic MT mRNA transcripts.