The Journal of Neuroscience, 2001, 21:RC193:1-6
RAPID COMMUNICATION
Thermal Preconditioning and Heat-Shock Protein 72 Preserve
Synaptic Transmission during Thermal Stress
Jonathan D.
Kelty1,
Peter A.
Noseworthy2,
Martin E.
Feder1,
R.
Meldrum
Robertson2, and
Jan-Marino
Ramirez1
1 Department of Organismal Biology and Anatomy, The
University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois 60637, and
2 Department of Biology, Queen's University, Kingston,
Ontario, Canada, K7L 3N6
As with other tissues, exposing the mammalian CNS to nonlethal heat
stress (i.e., thermal preconditioning) increases levels of heat-shock
proteins (Hsps) such as Hsp70 and enhances the viability of neurons
under subsequent stress. Using a medullary slice preparation from a
neonatal mouse, including the site of the neural network that generates
respiratory rhythm (the pre-Bötzinger complex), we show
that thermal preconditioning has an additional fundamental effect,
protection of synaptic function. Relative to 30°C baseline, initial
thermal stress (40°C) greatly increased the frequency of synaptic
currents recorded without pharmacological manipulation by ~17-fold
(p < 0.01) and of miniature postsynaptic
currents (mPSCs) elicited by GABA (20-fold) glutamate (10-fold), and
glycine (36-fold). Thermal preconditioning (15 min at 40°C)
eliminated the increase in frequency of overall synaptic transmission
during acute thermal stress and greatly attenuated the frequency
increases of GABAergic, glutamatergic, and glycinergic mPSCs (for each, p < 0.05). Moreover, without thermal
preconditioning, incubation of slices in solution containing inducible
Hsp70 (Hsp72) mimicked the effect of thermal preconditioning on the
stress-induced release of neurotransmitter. That preconditioning and
exogenous Hsp72 can affect and preserve normal physiological function
has important therapeutic implications.
Key words:
hyperthermia; heat shock; synaptic transmission; miniature postsynaptic current; GABA; glutamate; glycine
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