Abstract
Neurons express extremely different sensitivity to ischemic insults. The neuronal vulnerability is region-specific and the striatum is among the most susceptible areas to ischemic damage. Projecting GABAergic medium-sized neurons are very sensitive to energy metabolism impairment, whereas interneurons are selectively spared. However, the reasons for this differential vulnerability are largely unknown. Calcium ions (Ca2+) are important intracellular messengers enabling several physiological processes. However, excessive Ca2+ influx from the extracellular space or release from internal stores can elevate Ca2+ to levels that exceed the capacity of single neurons to appropriately buffer such overload. This capacity also appears to be a peculiar feature of single neuronal subtypes. This review will provide a brief survey of the ionic basis underlying the differential responses to in vitro ischemia of distinct striatal neuronal subtypes, mainly focusing on the role of Ca2+. The potential relevance of these findings in the development of therapeutic strategies for acute stroke will be discussed.
Original language | English |
---|---|
Pages (from-to) | 277-284 |
Number of pages | 8 |
Journal | Cell Calcium |
Volume | 36 |
Issue number | 3-4 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - Sep 2004 |
Keywords
- Calcium
- Ischemia
- Neuronal vulnerability
- Striatum
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Cell Biology
- Endocrinology