Induction of cyclosporin A-sensitive pore in mitochondria of intact neurons during uncoupling of oxidative phosphorylation.

Abstract

Using primary cultures of cerebellar granule cells we showed that Ca(2+)transported into neurons under the effect of glutamate is accumulated and stored in mitochondria for a long time. Protonophore FCCP, an uncoupler of oxidative phosphorylation, stimulated the release of Ca(2+)from mitochondria in a calcium-free medium in 81% glutamate-treated cells. Cyclosporin A and ATP-synthase blocker oligomycin decreased the number of cells with FCCP-induced Ca(2+)release to 53 and 12%, respectively. Oligomycin partly prevented glutamate- and FCCP-induced decrease of intracellular ATP level.