Multiple classes of the oligodendrocyte lineage are highly vulnerable to excitotoxicity

Neuroreport. 1998 Aug 24;9(12):2757-62. doi: 10.1097/00001756-199808240-00014.

Abstract

We have recently shown that galactocerebroside (Gal-C)-expressing oligodendrocytes are highly vulnerable to (AMPA)/kainate receptor-mediated death. Here we examined the vulnerability of cells at different developmental stages of the oligodendrocyte lineage to AMPA/kainate receptor-mediated excitotoxicity. Oligodendrocyte precursor cells, pre-oligodendrocytes and mature oligodendrocytes were killed by 24 h exposures to low concentrations of kainate (30-100 microM). Death was attenuated by the AMPA/kainate receptor antagonist 6-nitro-7-sulfamoylbenzo(f)quinoxaline-2,3-dione (NBQX). The high vulnerability of oligodendrocytes and their precursors to AMPA/kainate receptor excitotoxicity may represent an important mechanism of white matter damage resulting from trauma or ischemia in the perinatal and adult central nervous system (CNS).

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Astrocytes / physiology
  • Cell Lineage / drug effects
  • Cell Lineage / physiology*
  • Coculture Techniques
  • Excitatory Amino Acid Antagonists / toxicity
  • Excitatory Amino Acids / toxicity*
  • Immunohistochemistry
  • Mice
  • Oligodendroglia / drug effects
  • Oligodendroglia / physiology*
  • Prosencephalon / cytology
  • Quinoxalines / toxicity
  • Receptors, AMPA / drug effects
  • Receptors, Kainic Acid / drug effects

Substances

  • Excitatory Amino Acid Antagonists
  • Excitatory Amino Acids
  • Quinoxalines
  • Receptors, AMPA
  • Receptors, Kainic Acid
  • 2,3-dioxo-6-nitro-7-sulfamoylbenzo(f)quinoxaline