Return to search

In Vitro Exploration of Functional Acrolein Toxicity with Cortical Neuronal Networks

Acrolein is produced endogenously after traumatic brain injury (TBI) and is considered a primary mechanism for secondary damage occurring after TBI. We are using frontal cortex networks derived from mouse embryos and grown on microelectrode arrays in vitro to monitor the spontaneous activity of networks and the changes that occur after acrolein application. Networks exposed to acrolein exhibit a biphasic response profile. An initial increase in network activity, followed by a decrease to 100% activity loss in applications ≥ 50 µM. In applications below 50 µM, acrolein was not toxic but generated activity instability with coordinated but irregular population busts lasting for up to 6 days. The increase in activity preceding toxicity may be linked to a decrease in free spermine, a free radical scavenger that modulates Na+, K+, Ca+ channels as well as NMDA, Kainate, and AMPA receptors. Action potential wave shape analysis after 20 and 30 µM acrolein application revealed a concentration-dependent 15-33% increase in peak to peak amplitude within minutes after exposure. For the same concentrations of acrolein (50 µM), the time required to reach 100% activity loss (IT100) was longer in serum-free medium than in medium with 5% serum, in which IT100 values were reduced by a factor of 4. The greater toxicity in the presence of serum may be explained by acrolein adducts on serum proteins. These reaction products have been shown by other labs to be toxic in cell culture. This in vitro system could be used to expand biochemical analyses such as acrolein-induced spermine depletion and may provide an effective platform for investigating cell culture correlates of secondary TBI damage.

Identiferoai:union.ndltd.org:unt.edu/info:ark/67531/metadc1157516
Date05 1900
CreatorsDurant, Stormy R.
ContributorsGross, Guenter W., Lund, Amie, Moore, Ernest J.
PublisherUniversity of North Texas
Source SetsUniversity of North Texas
LanguageEnglish
Detected LanguageEnglish
TypeThesis or Dissertation
Formatvii, 55 pages, Text
RightsPublic, Durant, Stormy R, Copyright, Copyright is held by the author, unless otherwise noted. All rights Reserved.

Page generated in 0.0733 seconds