Calpain inhibitors delay injury-induced apoptosis in adult mouse spinal cord motor neurons
Author
Summary, in English
Here, we investigated the effect of calpain inhibitors on apoptosis in organotypic adult spinal cord slices from mice. An increase in calpain I immunoreactivity was found in the nuclei of motor neurons from slices cultured for 30 min. After 4 h, the immunopositive motor neurons exhibited apoptotic changes including nuclear and chromatin condensation. Eight hours after excision, most motor neurons showed nuclear apoptotic features. Two calpain inhibitors, leupeptin and calpain inhibitor XI, inhibited apoptosis in the motor neurons while the caspase inhibitor Z-VAD.fmk had no effect. Leupeptin, but not calpain inhibitor XI and Z-VAD.fmk, also inhibited nucleosomal DNA fragmentation. These results suggest the involvement of calpain I in the induction of apoptosis in motor neurons of adult spinal cord and that apoptosis can be triggered independent of caspase activation.
Department/s
Publishing year
2006
Language
English
Pages
761-765
Publication/Series
NeuroReport
Volume
17
Issue
8
Links
Document type
Journal article
Publisher
Lippincott Williams & Wilkins
Topic
- Neurosciences
Keywords
- spinal cord
- culture
- organ
- motor neurons
- caspase
- calpain inhibitor
- apoptosis
- calpain
Status
Published
ISBN/ISSN/Other
- ISSN: 1473-558X