Role of mitochondria in kainate-induced fast Ca2+ transients in cultured spinal motor neurons

Julian Grosskreutz*, Kirsten Haastert, Maarten Dewil, Philip Van Damme, Geert Callewaert, Wim Robberecht, Reinhard Dengler, Ludo Van Den Bosch

*Corresponding author for this work
51 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Motor neuron death in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) has been linked to selective vulnerability towards AMPA receptor-mediated excitotoxicity. We investigated intracellular mechanisms leading to impairment of motor neuron Ca2+ homeostasis with near physiological AMPA receptor activation. Using fast solution exchange on patch-clamped cultured neurons, kainate (KA) was applied for 2 s. This induced a transient increase in the cytosolic Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]c) for seconds. Inhibition of the mitochondrial uniporter by RU-360 abolished the decay of the Ca2+ transient and caused immediate [Ca2+]c overload. Repetitive short KA stimulation caused a slowing of the decay of the Ca2+ transient and a gradual increase in peak and baseline [Ca2+]c in motor neurons, but not in other neurons, indicating saturation of the mitochondrial buffer. Furthermore, mitochondrial density was lower in motor neurons and, in a network of neurons with physiological synaptic AMPA receptor input, RU-360 acutely induced an increase in Ca2+ transients. We conclude that motor neurons have an insufficient mitochondrial capacity to buffer large Ca2+ elevations which is partly due to a reduced mitochondrial density per volume compared to non-motor neurons. This may exert deleterious effects in motor neuron disease where mitochondrial function is thought to be compromised.

Original languageEnglish
JournalCell Calcium
Volume42
Issue number1
Pages (from-to)59-69
Number of pages11
ISSN0143-4160
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 07.2007
Externally publishedYes

Research Areas and Centers

  • Centers: Center for Neuromuscular Diseases

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