Sodium Influx Plays a Major Role in the Membrane Depolarization Induced by Oxygen and Glucose Deprivation in Rat Striatal Spiny Neurons

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Abstract
Background and Purpose—Striatal spiny neurons are selectively vulnerable to ischemia, but the ionic mechanisms underlying this selective vulnerability are unclear. Although a possible involvement of sodium and calcium ions has been postulated in the ischemia-induced damage of rat striatal neurons, the ischemia-induced ionic changes have never been analyzed in this neuronal subtype. Methods—We studied the effects of in vitro ischemia (oxygen and glucose deprivation) at the cellular level using intracellular recordings and microfluorometric measurements in a slice preparation. We also used various channel blockers and pharmacological compounds to characterize the ischemia-induced ionic conductances. Results—Spiny neurons responded to ischemia with a membrane depolarization/inward current that reversed at approximately −40 mV. This event was coupled with an increased membrane conductance. The simultaneous analysis of membrane potential changes and of variations in [Na+]i and [Ca2+]i levels showed that the is...