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This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Supplemental Data All Versions of this Article: 566/3/821    most recent jphysiol.2005.089458v1 Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Côté, A. Articles by Tóth, K. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Côté, A. Articles by Tóth, K.

¹ Centre de Recherche Université Laval Robert Giffard and Department of Psychiatry Québec, Québec G1J 2G3, Canada

Increased levels of intracellular zinc have been implicated in neuronal cell death in ischaemia, epilepsy and traumatic brain damage. However, decreases in zinc levels also lead to increased neuronal death and lowered seizure threshold. In the present study we investigated the physiological role of zinc in neurodegeneration and protection following epileptic seizures. Cells located in the strata oriens and lucidum of the CA3 region accumulated high concentrations of zinc and died. A decrease in zinc level could prevent the death of these neurones after seizures. Most of these cells were GABAergic interneurones. In contrast, neurones in the CA3 pyramidal cell layer accumulated moderate amounts of zinc and survived. Zinc chelation led to an increase in the mortality rate of these cells. Furthermore, in these cells low concentrations of intracellular zinc activated Akt (protein kinase B), thus providing protection against neurodegeneration. These results demonstrate that intracellularly accumulated zinc can be neurotoxic or neuroprotective depending on its concentration. This dual action is cell type specific.

(Received 28 April 2005; accepted after revision 19 May 2005; first published online 26 May 2005)
Corresponding author K. Tóth: Centre de recherche Université Laval Robert Giffard, 2601 chemin de la Canardière, Québec, QC, G1J 2G3 Canada. Email: katalin.toth{at}crulrg.ulaval.ca

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