Maitotoxin induces calpain but not caspase-3 activation and necrotic cell death in primary septo-hippocampal cultures.

摘要: Maitotoxin is a potent toxin that activates voltage and receptor-mediated Ca2+ channels, resulting in overload rapid cell death. We report maitotoxin-induced death associated with activation of calpain but not caspase-3 proteases septo-hippocampal cultures. Calpain were examined by accumulation protease-specific breakdown products to α-spectrin. Cell manifested exclusively necrotic-like characteristics including round, shrunken nuclei, even distribution chromatin, absence DNA fragmentation failure protein synthesis inhibition reduce Necrotic was observed neurons astroglia. inhibitor II inhibited calpain-specific processing α-spectrin significantly reduced The pan-caspase inhibitor, Z-D-DCB, nominally attenuated Results suggest that: (1) calpain, caspase-3, activated as result influx; (2) necrotic caused maitotoxin exposure partially mediated activation; (3) useful tool investigate pathological mechanisms necrosis.