Premium
Influence of nitric oxide on cellular and mitochondrial integrity in oxidatively stressed astrocytes
Author(s) -
Robb S.J.,
Gaspers L.D.,
Wright K.J.,
Thomas A.P.,
Connor J.R.
Publication year - 1999
Publication title -
journal of neuroscience research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.72
H-Index - 160
eISSN - 1097-4547
pISSN - 0360-4012
DOI - 10.1002/(sici)1097-4547(19990415)56:2<166::aid-jnr6>3.0.co;2-s
Subject(s) - oxidative stress , intracellular , mitochondrion , nitric oxide , microbiology and biotechnology , neurodegeneration , calcium in biology , astrocyte , chemistry , superoxide , membrane potential , oxidative phosphorylation , reactive oxygen species , biology , biochemistry , biophysics , neuroscience , medicine , central nervous system , disease , organic chemistry , enzyme
Astrocytes provide protection and trophic support to neurons, but like neurons are vulnerable to oxidative stress. Decreased function of astrocytes resulting from oxidative stress could contribute to neurodegeneration. Our goal is to understand the intracellular events associated with oxidative stress in astrocytes. Because nitric oxide (NO · ) has been implicated as a contributor to oxidative stress in the brain, we examined in this study whether NO · contributed to oxidative stress in astrocytes. Stimulation of NO · decreases superoxide levels, preserves mitochondrial membrane potential, and decreases mitochondrial swelling in astrocytes treated with peroxide. Chelation of NO · is associated with increased cell death, mitochondrial swelling, and loss of mitochondrial membrane potential, in response to peroxide treatment. Peroxide treatment increased intracellular calcium and the peroxide‐induced changes in intracellular calcium were not altered in response to NO · . Iron‐loading increases peroxide‐induced oxidative stress in astrocytes, but induction of NO · limited the iron effect, suggesting an interaction between iron and NO · . These data suggest endogenously produced NO · protects astrocytes from oxidative stress, perhaps by preserving mitochondrial function. J. Neurosci. Res. 56:166–176, 1999. © 1999 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.