Recent studies have shown that glutamate release by hypothalamic glial cells is an important physiological response to hyperosmolarity. Furthermore, previous studies point out an accentuated increase of the adenosine levels in renal interstitial fluid after the intake sodium increases. This study aims to evaluate the possible relationship between the adenosine and glutamate releases in primary cultures of astrocytes exposed to hyperosmolarity conditions. Hypothalamic astrocytes cultures of Wistar rats at the first two days after birth were exposed to hypertonic sodium solution (340mOsm/L) in different times (3, 5, 10 e 15 min). After this stimulus, the incubation medium was harvested and the extracellular levels of glutamate and adenosine were determined by High Performance Liquid Chromatography. In order to evaluate the relationship between these compounds in hyperosmotic conditions, we have used treatment of the cultures with adenosine, with R-PIA (an agonist of the A1 receptor), as well as with glutamate (an agonist of the NMDA receptor). Our results showed a significant increase of the extracellular levels of glutamate after the hyperosmotic stimulus with a peak at 5 min. Similarly, we have seen an increase of the adenosine levels in the incubation medium after 10 and 15 min. The treatment with glutamate induced an increase in extracellular levels of adenosine after 15 and 20 minutes in isosmotic medium. The exposure to the NMDA receptor did not induce the release of adenosine in none of the concentrations utilized. The pretreatment with adenosine and R-PIA A1 agonist blocked the release of glutamate induced by hyperosmolarity. Our results also showed that the effect of the stimulus on the release of glutamate and adenosine is sodium-dependent and presents a specific response for hypothalamic astrocytes, which can be modulated by the adenosine A1 receptor activation.
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