N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor subunit NR2A and NR2B messenger RNA levels are altered in the hippocampus and entorhinal cortex in Alzheimer's disease.

Full Abstract

The N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor is a subtype of ionotropic glutamate receptor that is involved in synaptic mechanisms of learning and memory, and mediates excitotoxic neuronal injury. In this study, we tested the hypothesis that NMDA receptor subunit gene expression is altered in Alzheimer's disease (AD), especially in brain regions known to be important in memory. Quantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was used to determine the messenger RNA (mRNA) levels of the NMDA receptor subunits NR1, NR2A, and NR2B in the hippocampus and entorhinal cortex of postmortem brain samples from nine clinically well-characterized AD patients and nine aged controls. Cerebellum, a site minimally affected by AD, was also chosen for comparison assessment. Results showed decreased levels of the NR2 mRNAs in AD brains compared to controls. Reductions of NR2A (46.2%, p<0.01) and NR2B (43.2%, p<0.0001) mRNA levels were identified in the entorhinal cortex. Reductions of NR2A (41.4%, p<0.05) and NR2B (40.6%, p=0.058) mRNA levels were found in the hippocampus. NR1 mRNA levels were similar in all three brain regions in both AD and controls. No significant changes of subunit NR2A and NR2B mRNA levels were identified in the cerebellum. Postmortem delay (PMD), tissue storage time, brain weight, or age of the subjects did not affect these changes. These data suggest that alterations in NMDA receptor subunits, especially the NR2A and NR2B, may be important in AD, particularly in neuronal populations that underlie impaired learning and memory.

Learn Faster Today Improve your study skills

Author information

Author/s: Bi, Hong (H); Sze, Chun-I (CI);

Affiliation: Xian Jiao-Tong University, Xian, 710061, People's Republic of China.

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Comparative Study; Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Journal: Journal of the neurological sciences (J Neurol Sci), published in Netherlands. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2002-Aug; vol 200 (issue 1-2) : pp 11-8

Dates: Created 2002/07/19; Completed 2002/10/18; Revised 2006/11/15;

PMID: 12127670, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 12/26/2008)

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

External Links for this article (including full text providers, if available):

Click Electronic Full-text Provider Links to see options for finding the electronic full text links to this article. Note there may be a subscription or fee required for access to the full text. See our FAQ for information on finding FREE full text articles.

This article may also be located in paper journal collections available in many libraries. Use the Journal and Publication Information above to find the full article.

MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MESH Headings shown below.

Aged
Aged, 80 and over
Alzheimer Disease - metabolism; pathology
Entorhinal Cortex - metabolism; pathology
Female
Gene Expression Regulation - physiology
Hippocampus - metabolism; pathology

Humans
Male
Middle Aged
Protein Subunits
RNA, Messenger - biosynthesis; metabolism
Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate - biosynthesis; metabolism
Statistics, Nonparametric

Associated Chemicals: NR2A NMDA receptor (0) ; NR2B NMDA receptor (0) ; Protein Subunits (0) ; RNA, Messenger (0) ; Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate (0)

These are the highest related articles currently in the database:

See 100+ related articles.