Mitochondrial free radical production induced by glucose deprivation in cerebellar granule neurons

Using a fluorescent probe for superoxide, hydroethidine, we have demonstrated that glucose deprivation (GD) activates production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in cultured cerebellar granule neurons. ROS production was insensitive to the blockade of ionotropic glutamate channels by MK-801 (10 μM) and NBQX (10 μM). Inhibitors of mitochondrial electron transport, i.e. rotenone (complex I), antimycin A (complex III), or sodium azide (complex IV), an inhibitor of mitochondrial ATP synthase—oligomycin, an uncoupler of oxidative phosphorylation—CCCP, a chelator of intracellular Ca2+-BAPTA, an inhibitor of electrogenic mitochondrial Ca2+ transport—ruthenium red, as well as pyruvate significantly decreased neuronal ROS production induced by GD. GD was accompanied by a progressive decrease in the mitochondrial membrane potential and an increase in free cytosolic calcium ions, [Ca2+]i. Pyruvate, BAPTA, and ruthenium red lowered the GD-induced calcium overload, while pyruvate and ruthenium red also prevented mitochondrial membrane potential changes induced by GD. We conclude that GD-induced ROS production in neurons is related to potential-dependent mitochondrial Ca2+ overload. GD-induced mitochondrial Ca2+ overload in neurons in combination with depletion of energy substrates may result in the decrease of the membrane potential in these organelles.