RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 Global Ischemia Induces Downregulation of Glur2 mRNA and Increases AMPA Receptor-Mediated Ca2+ Influx in Hippocampal CA1 Neurons of Gerbil JF The Journal of Neuroscience JO J. Neurosci. FD Society for Neuroscience SP 6179 OP 6188 DO 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.17-16-06179.1997 VO 17 IS 16 A1 Jan A. Gorter A1 Jeffrey J. Petrozzino A1 Eleonora M. Aronica A1 Daniel M. Rosenbaum A1 Thoralf Opitz A1 Michael V. L. Bennett A1 John A. Connor A1 R. Suzanne Zukin YR 1997 UL http://www.jneurosci.org/content/17/16/6179.abstract AB Transient, severe forebrain or global ischemia leads to delayed cell death of pyramidal neurons in the hippocampal CA1. The precise molecular mechanisms underlying neuronal cell death after global ischemia are as yet unknown. Glutamate receptor-mediated Ca2+ influx is thought to play a critical role in this cell death. In situ hybridization revealed that the expression of mRNA encoding GluR2 (the subunit that limits Ca2+ permeability of AMPA-type glutamate receptors) was markedly and specifically reduced in gerbil CA1 pyramidal neurons after global ischemia but before the onset of neurodegeneration. To determine whether the change in GluR2 expression is functionally significant, we examined the AMPA receptor-mediated rise in cytoplasmic free Ca2+ level ([Ca2+]i) in individual CA1 pyramidal neurons by optical imaging with the Ca2+indicator dye fura-2 and by intracellular recording. Seventy-two hours after ischemia, CA1 neurons that retained the ability to fire action potentials exhibited a greatly enhanced AMPA-elicited rise in [Ca2+]i. Basal [Ca2+]i in these neurons was unchanged. These findings provide evidence for Ca2+entry directly through AMPA receptors in pyramidal neurons destined to die. Downregulation of GluR2 gene expression and an increase in Ca2+ influx through AMPA receptors in response to endogenous glutamate are likely to contribute to the delayed neuronal death after global ischemia.