Learning and memory impairments under hypoxia: understanding the role of potassium channels

Abstract

Event Abstract Back to Event Learning and memory impairments under hypoxia: understanding the role of potassium channels Neetu Kushwah1, Vishal Jain1, Aastha Dheer1, Rahul Kumar1, Dipti Prasad1 and Nilofar Khan1* 1 Defence Institute of Physiology & Allied Sciences, DRDO, Lucknow Road, Timarpur, Delhi-110054, India, Division of Neurobiology, India Ion channels are involved in the information processing during cognition. Studies have shown the role of specific small conductance calcium activated potassium channels (SK channels) in synaptic plasticity, cognition and several neurological disorders. However, precise role of SK channels in hypobaric hypoxia (HH) induced memory impairments and neurodegeneration is still an enigma. Present study is designed to explore the time dependent changes in expression of SK channels during HH exposure. SD rats were exposed to different durations (1, 3, 7, 14, and 21 days) of HH in a simulation chamber at an altitude of 25000 feet with respective control groups. Following exposure expressions of different SK channels were studied at protein and gene level in the hippocampus. Role of SK channels in learning and memory was assessed using Morris Water Maze (MWM) after administering Apamin, selective SK channel blocker. Results from the present study revealed significant increase in SK1 and SK2 expression at protein as well as gene level on chronic HH exposure for 7 and 14 days and became stationary up-to 21 days. On the other hand, acute exposure for 1 and 3 days causes no significant changes in their expression levels. On the contrary, SK3 channels expression gradually increases up to 3 days and then decreases on further HH exposure. IHC analysis explored region specific distribution of different SK channels, which follows similar pattern in CA1-CA3 region of hippocampus with no significant change in DG region. Blocking SK channels with Apamin prevents chronic HH induced neurodegeneration and memory impairment as evident from spatial memory performance in MWM and Fluoro Jade staining. Keywords: Hippocampus, potassium channel, in vivo, hypoxia, behavioural assessment Conference: 14th Meeting of the Asian-Pacific Society for Neurochemistry, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, 27 Aug - 30 Aug, 2016. Presentation Type: Poster Presentation Session Topic: 14th Meeting of the Asian-Pacific Society for Neurochemistry Citation: Kushwah N, Jain V, Dheer A, Kumar R, Prasad D and Khan N (2016). Learning and memory impairments under hypoxia: understanding the role of potassium channels. Conference Abstract: 14th Meeting of the Asian-Pacific Society for Neurochemistry. doi: 10.3389/conf.fncel.2016.36.00199 Copyright: The abstracts in this collection have not been subject to any Frontiers peer review or checks, and are not endorsed by Frontiers. They are made available through the Frontiers publishing platform as a service to conference organizers and presenters. The copyright in the individual abstracts is owned by the author of each abstract or his/her employer unless otherwise stated. Each abstract, as well as the collection of abstracts, are published under a Creative Commons CC-BY 4.0 (attribution) licence (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) and may thus be reproduced, translated, adapted and be the subject of derivative works provided the authors and Frontiers are attributed. For Frontiers’ terms and conditions please see https://www.frontiersin.org/legal/terms-and-conditions. Received: 04 Aug 2016; Published Online: 11 Aug 2016. * Correspondence: Dr. Nilofar Khan, Defence Institute of Physiology & Allied Sciences, DRDO, Lucknow Road, Timarpur, Delhi-110054, India, Division of Neurobiology, New Delhi, Delhi, India, nilofarkhan2003@yahoo.com Login Required This action requires you to be registered with Frontiers and logged in. To register or login click here. Abstract Info Abstract The Authors in Frontiers Neetu Kushwah Vishal Jain Aastha Dheer Rahul Kumar Dipti Prasad Nilofar Khan Google Neetu Kushwah Vishal Jain Aastha Dheer Rahul Kumar Dipti Prasad Nilofar Khan Google Scholar Neetu Kushwah Vishal Jain Aastha Dheer Rahul Kumar Dipti Prasad Nilofar Khan PubMed Neetu Kushwah Vishal Jain Aastha Dheer Rahul Kumar Dipti Prasad Nilofar Khan Related Article in Frontiers Google Scholar PubMed Abstract Close Back to top Javascript is disabled. Please enable Javascript in your browser settings in order to see all the content on this page.