Potassium-induced structural changes of the endoplasmic reticulum in pyramidal neurons in murine organotypic hippocampal slices.

Krzysztof Kucharz, Tadeusz Wieloch, Håkan Toresson

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

The endoplasmic reticulum (ER) structure is of central importance for the regulation of cellular anabolism, stress response, and signal transduction. Generally continuous, the ER can temporarily undergo dramatic structural rearrangements resulting in a fragmented appearance. In this study we assess the dynamic nature of ER fission in pyramidal neurons in organotypic hippocampal slice cultures stimulated by depolarizing concentration of potassium (50 mM). The slices were obtained from transgenic mice expressing fluorescent ER-targeted DsRed2 protein. We employed live tissue confocal microscopy imaging with fluorescence recovery after photobleaching (FRAP) to monitor the extent of structural rearrangements of the ER. In control slices, the ER structure was continuous. Potassium stimulation resulted in extensive fragmentation (fission), whereas return to basal potassium levels (2.5 mM) led to ER fusion and normalization of ER structure. This ER fission/fusion could be repeated several times in the same neuron, demonstrating the reversibility of the process. Blockade of the N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) with the antagonist D-AP5 or removal of extracellular Ca(2+) prevented depolarization-induced ER fission. ER fission is sensitive to temperature, and decreasing temperature from 35°C to 30°C augments fission, implying that the altering of ER continuity may be a protective response against damage. We conclude that events that generate membrane depolarisation in brain tissue lead to the release of endogenous glutamate that may regulate neuronal ER continuity. The rapid and reversible NMDAR-mediated changes in ER structure reflect an adaptive, innate property of the ER for synaptic activation as well as response to tissue stress, injury, and disease. © 2011 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1150-1159
JournalJournal of Neuroscience Research
Volume89
Issue number8
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2011

Bibliographical note

The information about affiliations in this record was updated in December 2015.
The record was previously connected to the following departments: Laboratory for Experimental Brain Research (013041000), Clinical Memory Research Unit (013242610)

Subject classification (UKÄ)

  • Neurosciences

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