Cellular mechanisms underlying stress-induced coma in the CNS of the locust (Locusta migratoria)
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1
Queen's University, Department of Biology, Canada
Locusts enter a reversible coma in response to severe metabolic stress that is associated with abrupt surges in extracellular potassium concentration ([K+] o) within the CNS. Interestingly this K+ disturbance that is observed to propagate through locust neural tissue closely resembles cortical spreading depression (CSD) in mammals which has been associated with pathologies such as stroke, seizures and migraine. We believe that SD-like events in the locust are triggered by a positive feedback cycle initiated when processes of [K+]o accumulation overwhelm the ability to clear [K+]o. Through pharmacological manipulation we planned to elucidate the involvement of glia in locust SD. We monitored SD-like events using K+ sensitive microelectrodes while pharmacologically targeting glial mechanisms of K+ homeostasis. We show that inhibition of glial spatial buffering alone can induce repetitive SD and that disruption of the perineurium (specialized glial cells forming the insects’ blood brain barrier) can increase the severity of stress-induced SD-like events as well as increase the rate of SD propagation. We propose that glial cells play a key role in the generation and recovery from locust SD, and we are now using pharmacological approaches to alter the rate of SD propagation.
Keywords:
glia,
Ionic homeostasis,
Locust,
Metabolic Stress,
Spreading depression
Conference:
Tenth International Congress of Neuroethology, College Park. Maryland USA, United States, 5 Aug - 10 Aug, 2012.
Presentation Type:
Poster (but consider for student poster award)
Topic:
Cellular Properties
Citation:
Spong
KE,
Rochon-Terry
G and
Robertson
R
(2012). Cellular mechanisms underlying stress-induced coma in the CNS of the locust (Locusta migratoria).
Conference Abstract:
Tenth International Congress of Neuroethology.
doi: 10.3389/conf.fnbeh.2012.27.00341
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Received:
30 Apr 2012;
Published Online:
07 Jul 2012.
*
Correspondence:
Miss. Kristin E Spong, Queen's University, Department of Biology, Kingston, ON, Canada, 9ks26@queensu.ca