RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 Targeted Disruption of Na+/Ca2+ Exchanger 3 (NCX3) Gene Leads to a Worsening of Ischemic Brain Damage JF The Journal of Neuroscience JO J. Neurosci. FD Society for Neuroscience SP 1179 OP 1184 DO 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.4671-07.2008 VO 28 IS 5 A1 Molinaro, Pasquale A1 Cuomo, Ornella A1 Pignataro, Giuseppe A1 Boscia, Francesca A1 Sirabella, Rossana A1 Pannaccione, Anna A1 Secondo, Agnese A1 Scorziello, Antonella A1 Adornetto, Annagrazia A1 Gala, Rosaria A1 Viggiano, Davide A1 Sokolow, Sophie A1 Herchuelz, Andre A1 Schurmans, Stèphane A1 Di Renzo, Gianfranco A1 Annunziato, Lucio YR 2008 UL http://www.jneurosci.org/content/28/5/1179.abstract AB Na+/Ca2+ exchanger 3 (NCX3), one of the three isoforms of the NCX family, is highly expressed in the brain and is involved in the maintenance of intracellular Na+ and Ca2+ homeostasis. Interestingly, whereas the function of NCX3 under physiological conditions has been determined, its role under anoxia is still unknown. To assess NCX3 role in cerebral ischemia, we exposed ncx3−/− mice to transient middle cerebral artery occlusion followed by reperfusion. In addition, to evaluate the effect of ncx3 ablation on neuronal survival, organotypic hippocampal cultures and primary cortical neurons from ncx3−/− mice were subjected to oxygen glucose deprivation (OGD) plus reoxygenation. Here we report that ncx3 gene suppression leads to a worsening of brain damage after focal ischemia and to a massive neuronal death in all the hippocampal fields of organotypic cultures as well as in cortical neurons from ncx3−/− mice exposed to OGD plus reoxygenation. In addition, in ncx3−/− cortical neurons exposed to hypoxia, NCX currents, recorded in the reverse mode of operation, were significantly lower than those detected in ncx3+/+. From these results, NCX3 protein emerges as a new molecular target that may have a potential therapeutic value in modulating cerebral ischemia.