Abstract
Transient ischemia leads to changes in synaptic efficacy and results in selective neuronal damage during the postischemic phase, although the mechanisms are not fully understood. The protein composition and ultrastructure of postsynaptic densities (PSDs) were studied by using a rat transient ischemic model. We found that a brief ischemic episode induced a marked accumulation in PSDs of the protein assembly ATPases, N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive fusion protein, and heat-shock cognate protein-70 as well as the BDNF receptor (trkB) and protein kinases, as determined by protein microsequencing. The changes in PSD composition were accompanied by a 2.5-fold increase in the yield of PSD protein relative to controls. Biochemical modification of PSDs correlated well with an increase in PSD thickness observed in vivo by electron microscopy. We conclude that a brief ischemic episode modifies the molecular composition and ultrastructure of synapses by assembly of proteins to the postsynaptic density, which may underlie observed changes in synaptic function and selective neuronal damage.
Publication types
-
Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.
MeSH terms
-
Adenosine Triphosphatases / metabolism
-
Amino Acid Sequence
-
Animals
-
Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinase Type 2
-
Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinases / metabolism
-
Carrier Proteins / metabolism*
-
HSC70 Heat-Shock Proteins
-
HSP70 Heat-Shock Proteins*
-
Ischemic Attack, Transient / metabolism*
-
Male
-
Molecular Sequence Data
-
N-Ethylmaleimide-Sensitive Proteins
-
Protein Kinase C / metabolism
-
Rats
-
Rats, Wistar
-
Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / metabolism*
-
Receptor, Ciliary Neurotrophic Factor
-
Receptors, Nerve Growth Factor / metabolism*
-
Synapses / metabolism*
-
Synapses / ultrastructure
-
Synaptic Transmission / physiology
-
Vesicular Transport Proteins*
Substances
-
Carrier Proteins
-
HSC70 Heat-Shock Proteins
-
HSP70 Heat-Shock Proteins
-
Hspa8 protein, rat
-
Receptor, Ciliary Neurotrophic Factor
-
Receptors, Nerve Growth Factor
-
Vesicular Transport Proteins
-
Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases
-
Protein Kinase C
-
Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinase Type 2
-
Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinases
-
Adenosine Triphosphatases
-
N-Ethylmaleimide-Sensitive Proteins
-
Nsf protein, rat