Prosurvival NMDA 2A receptor signaling mediates postconditioning neuroprotection in the hippocampus

Xi Zhang, Quanguang Zhang, Jingyi Tu, Ying Zhu, Fang Yang, Bin Liu, Darrell W Brann, Ruimin Wang

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

25 Scopus citations

Abstract

Ischemic postconditioning (Post C), which involves administration of a brief ischemia after the initial ischemic event, has been demonstrated to be strongly neuroprotective against global cerebral ischemia (GCI) and to improve cognitive outcome. To enhance understanding of the underlying mechanisms, the current study examined the role of NMDA receptors in mediating the beneficial effects of Post C (3 min ischemia) administered 2 days after GCI in adult male rats. The results revealed that Post C was strongly neuroprotective against GCI, and that this effect was blocked by administration of the NMDA receptor antagonist MK-801. Further work revealed that the NR2A-type NMDA receptors mediate the Post C beneficial effects as administration of a NR2A-preferring antagonist (NVP-A) blocked Post C neuroprotection and cognitive enhancement, while administration of a NR2B-preferring antagonist (Ro25) was without effect. Post C significantly up-regulated NR2A levels and phosphorylation of NR2A in the hippocampal CA1 region after Post C. Post C also increased Ca2+ influx and activation/phosphorylation of CamKIIα at Thr286, effects that were NR2A mediated as they were blocked by NVP-A. Phosphorylation of ERK and CREB was also increased by Post C, as were two downstream CREB-dependent prosurvival factors, brain derived neurotropic factor (BDNF) and Bcl2, effects that were blocked by the NR2A antagonist, NVP-A. Taken as a whole, the current study provides evidence that NR2A-activation and downstream prosurvival signaling is a critical mediator of Post C-induced neuroprotection and cognitive enhancement following GCI.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)286-296
Number of pages11
JournalHippocampus
Volume25
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - Mar 1 2015

Keywords

  • CREB
  • Calcium
  • Cerebral ischemic postconditioning
  • Cognition
  • NMDA receptors

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Cognitive Neuroscience

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