Group III metabotropic glutamate receptors against elevation of intracellular calcium induced by amyloid β‐peptide (31–35) in cultured cortical neurons

Although the mechanisms of amyloid β‐peptide(Aβ) neurotoxicity is still obscure, the disruption of the intracellular Ca 2+ concentration ([Ca 2+ ] i ) homeostasis has been emphasized recently. In the present study, we investigated the effects of L‐SOP, (R,S)‐PPG, the selective agonist of group III mGluRs, coapplying with Aβ31–35 on [Ca 2+ ] i in cultured cortical neurons by real time fluorescence imaging technique using the Ca 2+ ‐sensitive dye Furo‐2/AM. The results showed that: 1. Aβ31–35(5μM, 10μM, 20μM, 25μM) could trigger elevation of [Ca 2+ ] i level in cultured cortical neurons in a dose‐dependent manner; 2. After incubating the cells with L‐SOP(100μM), the elevation of [Ca 2+ ] i induced by Aβ31–35(25μM) could be diminished, showing a reduction rate of 71.94±3.61%; 3. The Aβ31–35(25μM)‐induced elevation of [Ca 2+ ] i was significantly diminished in the presence of (R,S)‐PPG(100μM), which almost completely inhibit the [Ca 2+ ] i elevation induced by Aβ31–35, the reduction rate even up to 89.94±5.76%. Conclusion 1. Aβ31–35 is responsible for [Ca 2+ ] i overloading in cultured cortical neurons in a dose‐dependent manner; 2. Activation of group III mGluRs by novel agonist of L‐SOP, (R,S)‐PPG suppressed the elevation of [Ca 2+ ] i induced by Aβ31–35.