ACUTE AND CHRONIC EFFECTS OF LITHIUM ON BDNF AND GDNF MRNA AND PROTEIN LEVELS IN RAT PRIMARY NEURONAL, ASTROGLIAL AND NEUROASTROGLIA CULTURES

摘要

Objective(s): The neuroprotective effect of lithium has been attributed to its therapeutic action. However, the role of glial cells particularly astrocytes, and the possible interactions between neurons and astrocytes in neuroprotective effects of lithium have been disregarded. Thus, the aim of this study was to evaluate the direct effects of lithium on brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and glial cell line derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) in rat primary neuronal, astrocytes, and mixed neuro-astroglial cultures to assess the possible effects of lithium on astrocytes and neuro-astroglia interactions.Materials and Methods: Rat primary astrocyte, neuronal and mixed neuro -astrocyte cultures were prepared from cortices of 18-day embryos. Cell cultures were exposed to lithium (1 mM ) or vehicle for 1 day (acute) or 7 days (chronic). BDNF and GDNF mRNA and protein levels were determined by RT-PCR and ELISA, respectively.Results: Chronic but not acute lithium treatment increased intracellular BDNF and GDNF protein levels in rat primary neuronal and astrocyte cultures, respectively (PConclusion: Present study showed that chronic lithium treatment affected neurotrophins both in neurons and astrocytes in a cell-type specific manner with no effect on neuron-astrocyte interactions. The findings of this study also highlighted the importance of astrocytes as drug targets involved in the neuroprotective action of lithium.