Regulatory Volume Decrease in Neural Precursor Cells: Taurine Efflux and Gene Microarray Analysis

• Published in: Cellular physiology and biochemistry Vol. 34; no. 6; pp. 2038 - 2048
• Main Authors: Hernández-Benítez, Reyna, Sedeño-Cortés, Adriana, Ramos-Mandujano, Gerardo, Pasantes-Morales, Herminia
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Basel, Switzerland Cell Physiol Biochem Press GmbH & Co KG 01.01.2014
• Subjects: Animals; Cell Line; Cell Proliferation - physiology; Cell Size; Gene expression analysis; Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental - drug effects; Mesencephalon - cytology; Mice; Microarray Analysis; Neural Stem Cells - cytology; Neural Stem Cells - drug effects; Neural Stem Cells - metabolism; Neurons - cytology; Neurons - metabolism; Neurons - physiology; Original Paper; Osmotic Pressure; Stem and progenitor cells; Swelling; Taurine; Taurine - chemistry; Stem and progenitor cells; Taurine; Gene expression analysis; Swelling
• ISSN: 1015-8987; 1421-9778; 1421-9778
• DOI: 10.1159/000366399

Background/Aims: Neural stem/ progenitor cells (NPCs) endure important changes in cell volume during growth, proliferation and migration. As a first approach to know about NPC response to cell volume changes, the Regulatory Volume Decrease (RVD) subsequent to hypotonic swelling was investigated. Methods: NPCs obtained from the mesencephalon and the subventricular zone of embryonic and adult mice, respectively, were grown and cultured as neurospheres. Cell volume changes were measured by large-angle light-scattering and taurine efflux by [ 3 H]-taurine. Expression of genes encoding molecules related to RVD was analysed using a DNA microarray obtained from NPC samples. Results: Embryonic and adult NPCs exposed to osmolarity reduction (H15, H30, H40) exhibited rapid swelling followed by RVD. The magnitude, efficiency and pharmacological profile, of RVD and of [ 3 H]-taurine osmosensitive efflux were comparable to those found in cultured brain cells, astrocytes and neurons. The relative expression of genes encoding molecules related to volume regulation, i.e. K + and Cl - channels, cotransporters, exchangers and aquaporins were identified in NPCs. Conclusion: NPCs show the ability to respond to hypotonic-evoked volume changes by adaptative recovery processes, similar to those found in other cultured brain cells. Genes related to molecules involved in RVD were found expressed in NPCs.