TY - JOUR
T1 - Role of Rac1 GTPase in NADPH oxidase activation and cognitive impairment following cerebral ischemia in the rat
AU - Raz, Limor
AU - Zhang, Quan Guang
AU - Zhou, Cai Feng
AU - Han, Dong
AU - Gulati, Priya
AU - Yang, Li Cai
AU - Yang, Fang
AU - Wang, Rui Min
AU - Brann, Darrell W.
PY - 2010/9/7
Y1 - 2010/9/7
N2 - Background: Recent work by our laboratory and others has implicated NADPH oxidase as having an important role in reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation and neuronal damage following cerebral ischemia, although the mechanisms controlling NADPH oxidase in the brain remain poorly understood. The purpose of the current study was to examine the regulatory and functional role of the Rho GTPase, Rac1 in NADPH oxidase activation, ROS generation and neuronal cell death/cognitive dysfunction following global cerebral ischemia in the male rat. Methodology/Principal Findings: Our studies revealed that NADPH oxidase activity and superoxide (O2-) production in the hippocampal CA1 region increased rapidly after cerebral ischemia to reach a peak at 3 h post-reperfusion, followed by a fall in levels by 24 h post-reperfusion. Administration of a Rac GTPase inhibitor (NSC23766) 15 min before cerebral ischemia significantly attenuated NADPH oxidase activation and O2- production at 3 h after stroke as compared to vehicle-treated controls. NSC23766 also attenuated "in situ" O2- production in the hippocampus after ischemia/reperfusion, as determined by fluorescent oxidized hydroethidine staining. Oxidative stress damage in the hippocampal CA1 after ischemia/reperfusion was also significantly attenuated by NSC23766 treatment, as evidenced by a marked attenuation of immunostaining for the oxidative stress damage markers, 4-HNE, 8-OHdG and H2AX at 24 h in the hippocampal CA1 region following cerebral ischemia. In addition, Morris Water maze testing revealed that Rac GTPase inhibition after ischemic injury significantly improved hippocampal-dependent memory and cognitive spatial abilities at 7-9 d post reperfusion as compared to vehicletreated animals. Conclusions/Significance: The results of the study suggest that Rac1 GTPase has a critical role in mediating ischemia/ reperfusion injury-induced NADPH oxidase activation, ROS generation and oxidative stress in the hippocampal CA1 region of the rat, and thus contributes significantly to neuronal degeneration and cognitive dysfunction following cerebral ischemia.
AB - Background: Recent work by our laboratory and others has implicated NADPH oxidase as having an important role in reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation and neuronal damage following cerebral ischemia, although the mechanisms controlling NADPH oxidase in the brain remain poorly understood. The purpose of the current study was to examine the regulatory and functional role of the Rho GTPase, Rac1 in NADPH oxidase activation, ROS generation and neuronal cell death/cognitive dysfunction following global cerebral ischemia in the male rat. Methodology/Principal Findings: Our studies revealed that NADPH oxidase activity and superoxide (O2-) production in the hippocampal CA1 region increased rapidly after cerebral ischemia to reach a peak at 3 h post-reperfusion, followed by a fall in levels by 24 h post-reperfusion. Administration of a Rac GTPase inhibitor (NSC23766) 15 min before cerebral ischemia significantly attenuated NADPH oxidase activation and O2- production at 3 h after stroke as compared to vehicle-treated controls. NSC23766 also attenuated "in situ" O2- production in the hippocampus after ischemia/reperfusion, as determined by fluorescent oxidized hydroethidine staining. Oxidative stress damage in the hippocampal CA1 after ischemia/reperfusion was also significantly attenuated by NSC23766 treatment, as evidenced by a marked attenuation of immunostaining for the oxidative stress damage markers, 4-HNE, 8-OHdG and H2AX at 24 h in the hippocampal CA1 region following cerebral ischemia. In addition, Morris Water maze testing revealed that Rac GTPase inhibition after ischemic injury significantly improved hippocampal-dependent memory and cognitive spatial abilities at 7-9 d post reperfusion as compared to vehicletreated animals. Conclusions/Significance: The results of the study suggest that Rac1 GTPase has a critical role in mediating ischemia/ reperfusion injury-induced NADPH oxidase activation, ROS generation and oxidative stress in the hippocampal CA1 region of the rat, and thus contributes significantly to neuronal degeneration and cognitive dysfunction following cerebral ischemia.
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U2 - 10.1371/journal.pone.0012606
DO - 10.1371/journal.pone.0012606
M3 - Article
C2 - 20830300
AN - SCOPUS:77958555016
SN - 1932-6203
VL - 5
SP - 1
EP - 9
JO - PLoS One
JF - PLoS One
IS - 9
M1 - e12606
ER -