Intracerebroventricular administration of ouabain to rats changes the expression of NMDA receptor subunits in cerebral cortex and hippocampus.

M. G. BERSIER; G. RODRÍGUEZ DE LORES ARNAIZ

NEUROCHEMICAL RESEARCH

SPRINGER/PLENUM PUBLISHERS

Año: 2009 vol. 34 p. 1650 - 1657

0364-3190

Ouabain exerts neurotoxic action and activates the population of NMDA receptors. Herein the effect of ouabain on the expression of NMDA subunits was evaluated. Wistar rats of 250g were administered intracerebroventricularly with 0.1, 10 and 100 nmol ouabain or saline solution (control). Two days later, membranes of cerebral cortex and hippocampus were isolated. Western blots with antibodies for the NMDA receptor subunits: GluN1; GluN2A; GluN2B; GluN2C and GluN2D were carried out. In cerebral cortex, GluN2D subunit increased 30% with 10 nmol ouabain dose. With 100 nmol ouabain, GluN1 and GluN2D subunits enhanced 40% and 20%, respectively. In hippocampus, with the dose of 0.1 nmol ouabain, GluN1 subunit enhanced roughly 50% whereas GluN2B subunit decreased 30%. After administration of 10 nmol ouabain dose, GluN2A, GluN2B and GluN2C subunits decreased 40%, 50% and 30%, respectively. With the dose of 100 nmol of ouabain, GluN1, GluN2A and GluN2B subunits diminished 10-20%. It is concluded that ouabain administration led to a differential regulation in the expression of NMDA subunits. These results may be correlated with the modulatory action of ouabain on NMDA receptor.