Alterations in AMPA receptor subunit expression after experimental spinal cord contusion injury.

摘要: The AMPA-preferring subtype of ionotropic glutamate receptors (GluRs) is a hetero-oligomeric ion channel assembled from various combinations four subunits: GluR1, GluR2, GluR3, and GluR4. Antagonists these can mitigate the effects experimental spinal cord injury (SCI), indicating that play significant role in pathophysiology after trauma. We tested hypothesis SCI alters expression AMPA using standardized thoracic weight-drop model rat contusive injury. receptor subunit was measured at 24 hr 1 month with quantitative Western blot analysis situ hybridization. GluR2 protein levels were preferentially reduced near site SCI. This reduction persisted month. At cellular level, decrease both GluR4 mRNA found spared ventral motor neurons adjacent to distal it, other mRNAs maintained control levels. In contrast, only GluR1 decreased sympathetic preganglionic intermediolateral horn. These results suggest population-specific long-lasting changes neuronal composition, which may alter response alterations contribute not acute neuropathological consequences injury, but they also be partially responsible for altered functional state preserved tissue seen chronically