A. I. Sergeev – Ph.D. (Biol.), Research Scientist, Pushchino Scientific Center for Biological Research of the Russian Academy of Sciences

E-mail: sergeev.bio@gmail.com

N. V. Bobkova – Ph.D. (Biol.), Head of Laboratory, Pushchino Scientific Center for Biological Research of the Russian Academy of Sciences

E-mail: nbobkova@mail.ru

The main type of information transfer in the brain is the activity of neurons, consisting of spikes of action potentials, often combined in bursts. However, hyperactivity of neurons is a characteristic feature of a number of pathologies, including convulsive activity, epilepsy, ammonia intoxication, and even Alzheimer's disease. The search for compounds capable of normalizing the activity of neurons is an urgent problem in modern medicine.

The effectiveness of the use of stress proteins Hsp70 (heat shock protein) and YB-1 (cold shock protein) for the regulation of neuronal hyper-excitation caused by ammonium ions (NH4Cl) is investigated in primary hippocampal culture.

It has been found that under the influence of Hsp70 (100 mkg/ml), a simultaneous suppression of neuronal hyperactivity was observed, which was characterized by a decrease in the amplitude and frequency of changes in intracellular calcium [Ca2+]i, which is apparently due to the direct effect of Hsp70 on the excitability of each neuron. In contrast, YB-1 caused a slow decrease in the hyper-excitation of most neurons in the network, however 10–15% of neurons had a significant increase in hyperactivity. We think it is a subpopulation of neurons that release inhibitory neurotransmitters such as GABA and taurine. The results obtained open up new prospects for the therapeutic use of stress proteins to suppress neuronal hyperactivity, characteristic of a number of pathologies.

Sergeev A.I., Bobkova N.V. Suppression of hyperexcitation of hippocampal neurons in vitro by stress proteins Hsp70 and YB-1. Neurocomputers. 2020. Vol. 22. No. 4. P. 50-54. DOI: 10.18127/j19998554-202004-09. (in Russian)

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