Expression of NMDA neuroreceptors in experimental ischemia.

The role of NMDA receptors in molecular mechanisms of neurotoxicity was investigated using rat models of global and focal cerebral ischemia. Expression of NR2A and NR2B receptor mRNAs up-regulated in cortex after 3 h of reperfusion following middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAo). This effect was accompanied by an increase in NR2A and NR2B immunoreactivity. At six hours of reperfusion, drastic activation of NR2A mRNA expression was observed in the penumbra that returned to the control level at 24 h of reperfusion. The monitoring of NR2A autoantibodies in the blood of the experimental rats showed its reliable increase to the 5-6th day of reperfusion that maintained elevated to the 20th day of the experiment. The data indicate that NR2A and 2B receptor subunits and NR2A autoantibodies are biochemical markers of the neurotoxicity underlying cerebral ischemia.