A new specialization in astrocytes: Glutamate- and ammonia-induced nuclear size changes

• Published in: Journal of neuroscience research 2011-12, Vol.89 (12), p.2041-2051
• Main Authors: Yang, Chun Zhang, Li, Hui Li, Zhou, Ye, Chai, Rui Chao, Zhao, Rui, Dong, Yan, Xu, Zhen Yu, Lau, Lok Ting, Yingge, Zhang, Teng, Junlin, Chen, Jianguo, Yu, Albert Cheung Hoi
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Ammonia; Ammonia - metabolism; Ammonia - pharmacology; Animals; astrocyte; Astrocytes; Astrocytes - drug effects; Astrocytes - ultrastructure; atomic force microscopy; ATP; Atrophy; Cell culture; Cell Nucleus - drug effects; Cell Nucleus - ultrastructure; Cell size; Cells, Cultured; cytoplasmic swelling; glutamate; Glutamic acid; Glutamic Acid - metabolism; Glutamic Acid - pharmacology; Glutamine; Glycine; Mice; Mice, Inbred ICR; Microglia; Microscopy, Atomic Force; Nervous system; nuclear swelling; Specialization; Taurine
• ISSN: 0360-4012; 1097-4547; 1097-4547
• DOI: 10.1002/jnr.22657

We observed nuclear swelling in glutamate (Glu)‐treated astrocytes that was concomitant with but independent of astrocytic cell swelling. We confirmed Glu‐induced nuclear swelling with nuclei isolated from astrocytes. Ammonia is metabolically related to Glu and could induce a nuclear swelling in intact astrocytes but shrinkage in isolated nuclei. Other compounds such as glutamine, aspartate, taurine, glycine, and ATP did not cause any nuclear swelling in isolated nuclei of astrocytes. Surprisingly, Glu and ammonia did not induce nuclear swelling in microglia, C6, HEK 293, or Hep G2 cell lines in cultures and their isolated nuclei. The Glu‐ and ammonia‐induced nuclear size changes appear to be a specific response of astrocytes to these two closely related metabolic compounds. © 2011 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.