Abstract
BackgroundL-Glutamate (L-Glu) is the major excitatory neurotransmitter in the CNS, and its level in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) is reported to be increased in neuroexcitatory diseases such as epilepsy. Since L-Glu concentration in the CSF is reported to be lower than that in plasma, it has been proposed that some mechanisms of L-Glu clearance from the CSF operate in the brain. The purpose of this study was to elucidate the major pathway of L-Glu elimination from rat CSF and the transporters responsible.MethodsProtein expression and localization of excitatory amino acid transporters were examined by immunohistochemical analysis using specific antibodies. In vivo elimination of L-Glu from rat CSF was evaluated by intracerebroventricular administration. An L-Glu uptake study by using primary-cultured rat ependymal cells and isolated rat choroid plexus was performed to characterize L-Glu transport mechanisms.ResultsAn immunohistochemical analysis has shown that excitatory amino acid transporter (EAAT) 1 and EAAT3, which are D-aspartate-sensitive and kainate-insensitive L-Glu transporters, are localized on the CSF-side of rat ependymal cells and choroid plexus epithelial cells, respectively. In contrast, the kainate-sensitive L-Glu transporter, EAAT2, is not expressed in these cells. In vivo L-Glu elimination clearance from the rat CSF (189 μL/(min · rat)) was 23-fold higher than the CSF bulk flow rate, indicating that facilitative process(es) are involved in L-Glu elimination from the CSF. The in vivo [3H]L-Glu elimination from the CSF was significantly inhibited by unlabeled L-Glu and D-aspartate, but not kainate. Moreover, unlabeled L-Glu and D-aspartate inhibited [3H]L-Glu uptake by rat ependymal cells and choroid plexus epithelial cells, whereas kainate had little effect.ConclusionIt is suggested that EAAT1 in ependymal cells and EAAT3 in choroid plexus epithelial cells participate in L-Glu elimination from the CSF.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12987-015-0006-x) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
Highlights
L-Glutamate (L-Glu) is the major excitatory neurotransmitter in the central nervous system (CNS), and its level in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) is reported to be increased in neuroexcitatory diseases such as epilepsy
Immunoreactivities derived from EAAT1, EAAT2, and EAAT3 were detected in neural cells of the brain parenchyma
The EAAT1 immunoreactivities were detected on the CSF side of the cells, indicating that EAAT1 is localized on the apical membrane of ependymal cells
Summary
L-Glutamate (L-Glu) is the major excitatory neurotransmitter in the CNS, and its level in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) is reported to be increased in neuroexcitatory diseases such as epilepsy. Since L-Glu concentration in the CSF is reported to be lower than that in plasma, it has been proposed that some mechanisms of L-Glu clearance from the CSF operate in the brain. In various CNS diseases, such as epilepsy, multiple sclerosis and Alzheimer’s disease, the L-Glu level in CSF, which fills the cerebral ventricles and bathes the brain, is reported to be increased [3,4]. The L-Glu concentration in the rat CSF has been reported to be 11.4 μM, which is 14-fold lower than that in rat plasma [5]. It is conceivable that some mechanisms operate to eliminate L-Glu from the CSF and to regulate the brain/CSF L-Glu levels
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