Chronic Intermittent Hypoxia Exerts CNS Region-Specific Effects on Rat Microglial Inflammatory and TLR4 Gene Expression

Intermittent hypoxia (IH) during sleep is a hallmark of sleep apnea, causing significant neuronal apoptosis, and cognitive and behavioral deficits in CNS regions underlying memory processing and executive functions. IH-induced neuroinflammation is thought to contribute to cognitive deficits after IH. In the present studies, we tested the hypothesis that IH would differentially induce inflammatory factor gene expression in microglia in a CNS region-dependent manner, and that the effects of IH would differ temporally. To test this hypothesis, adult rats were exposed to intermittent hypoxia (2 min intervals of 10.5% O₂) for 8 hours/day during their respective sleep cycles for 1, 3 or 14 days. Cortex, medulla and spinal cord tissues were dissected, microglia were immunomagnetically isolated and mRNA levels of the inflammatory genes iNOS, COX-2, TNFα, IL-1β and IL-6 and the innate immune receptor TLR4 were compared to levels in normoxia. Inflammatory gene expression was also assessed in tissue homogenates (containing all CNS cells). We found that microglia from different CNS regions responded to IH differently. Cortical microglia had longer lasting inflammatory gene expression whereas spinal microglial gene expression was rapid and transient. We also observed that inflammatory gene expression in microglia frequently differed from that in tissue homogenates from the same region, indicating that cells other than microglia also contribute to IH-induced neuroinflammation. Lastly, microglial TLR4 mRNA levels were strongly upregulated by IH in a region- and time-dependent manner, and the increase in TLR4 expression appeared to coincide with timing of peak inflammatory gene expression, suggesting that TLR4 may play a role in IH-induced neuroinflammation. Together, these data indicate that microglial-specific neuroinflammation may play distinct roles in the effects of intermittent hypoxia in different CNS regions.     

Wistar大鼠海马CA1区、CA3区和齿状回区的解剖分割

目的:在体视显微镜下分割Wistar大鼠海马CA1区、CA3区和齿状回(DG)区。方法:24只健康Wistar大鼠,分组如下:①6只大鼠取脑后硫堇染色,观察海马各区细胞形态;②6只大鼠分离出海马,体视显微镜下观察海马形态并分割CA1区、CA3区和DG区,各区分别切片后硫堇染色;③12只大鼠检测海马各区HSP 70的表达。结果:①大脑冠状切片硫堇染色清晰显示出海马CA1区、CA3区和DG区;②体视显微镜下,在海马腹侧面,沿着CA1区和DG区之间的海马沟可分割开CA1区和DG区,沿着CA3区和DG区之间的裂隙可分割开CA3区和DG区;分割后的海马各区细胞形态结构与整体大脑冠状切片上相对应区域的细胞形态结构一致;③Western blot结果显示:与对照组相比,脑缺血组HSP 70的表达在海马CA3+DG区明显上调、而在CA1无明显变化,这一结果与免疫组织化学结果一致。结论:上述方法可比较明确地分割Wistar大鼠海马CA1区、CA3区和DG区,分割得到的各区组织可用于蛋白质表达的检测。     

间歇性低压低氧预处理对脑缺血大鼠海马p-p38 MAPK表达的影响

目的:本文旨在观察间歇性低压低氧(IH)预处理诱导脑缺血耐受过程中,大鼠海马CA1区磷酸化p38MAPK(p-p38 MAPK)的表达以及表达p-p38 MAPK的星形胶质细胞数量。方法:将30只健康雄性Wistar大鼠随机分为6组(n=5):假手术(sham)0 min组、IH+sham 0 min组、sham 7 d组、IH+sham 7 d组、损伤性缺血(Is)7 d组、IH+Is 7 d组。通过硫堇染色对各组大鼠海马CA1区锥体神经元进行神经病理学评价;免疫组织化学染色观察pp38 MAPK的表达;免疫荧光双标法观察表达p-p38 MAPK的星形胶质细胞数量。结果:IH预处理可以诱导脑缺血耐受,同时引起大鼠海马CA1区p-p38 MAPK的表达明显增加,且上调星形胶质细胞中p-p38 MAPK的表达。结论:低压低氧预处理促大鼠海马CA1区锥体神经元和星形胶质细胞中p-p38MAPK上调可能是IH预处理保护脑的一个途经。     

Nitric oxide deficit in chronic intermittent hypoxia impairs large conductance calcium-activated potassium channel activity in rat hippocampal neurons

Sleep apnea associated with chronic intermittent hypoxia (IH) impairs hippocampal functions but the pathogenic mechanisms involving dysfunction of nitric oxide (NO) and ionic channels remain unclear. We examined the hypothesis that hippocampal NO deficit impairs the activity of large conductance calcium-activated potassium (BK) channels in rats with chronic IH, mimicking conditions in patients with sleep apnea. A patch-clamp study was performed on hippocampal CA1 neurons acutely dissociated from IH and control rats. The levels of endogenous NO and intracellular calcium in the CA1 region of the hippocampal slices were measured respectively by electrochemical microsensors and spectrofluorometry. We found that the open probability of BK channels remarkably decreased in the CA1 pyramidal neurons in a time-dependent manner with the IH treatment, without changes in the unitary conductance and reversal potential. NO donors, SNP or DETA/NO, significantly restored the activity of BK channels in the IH neurons, which was prevented by blockade of S-nitrosylation with NEM or MTSES but not by inhibition of the cGMP pathway with ODQ or 8-bromo-cGMP. Endogenous NO levels were substantially lowered in the IH hippocampus during resting and hypoxia. Also, the level of protein expression of neuronal NO synthase was markedly lessened in the IH neurons with decreased intracellular calcium response to hypoxia. Collectively, the results suggest that the IH-induced NO deficit mediated by a down-regulation of the expression of neuronal NO synthase plays a causative role in the impaired activity of BK channels, which could account for the hippocampal injury in patients with sleep apnea.     

Akt-mediated valosin-containing protein 97 phosphorylation regulates its association with ubiquitinated proteins

Hypoxia is a common environmental stress that influences signaling pathways and cell function. Previous studies from our laboratory have identified significant differences in cellular responses to sustained or intermittent hypoxia with the latter proving more cytotoxic. We hypothesized that differences in susceptibility of neurons to intermittent (IH) and sustained hypoxia (SH) are mediated by altered Akt signaling. SH, but not IH, induced a significant increase in Akt activation in rat CA1 hippocampal region extracts compared with room air controls. Akt immunoprecipitations followed by proteomic analysis identified valosin-containing protein (VCP) as an Akt-binding protein. In addition, VCP expression and association with Akt was enhanced during SH, and this association was decreased upon phosphoinositide 3-kinase/Akt pathway blockade with LY294002. Active recombinant Akt phosphorylated recombinant VCP in vitro. Site-directed mutagenesis studies identified Ser352, Ser746, and Ser748 as Akt phosphorylation sites on VCP. In addition, rat CA1 hippocampal tissue exposed to SH exhibited an acidic pI shift of VCP. Protein phosphatase 2A treatment inhibited this acidic shift consistent with SH-induced phosphorylation of VCP in vivo. PC-12 cells transfected with active Akt, but not dominant negative Akt or vector, induced VCP expression and an acidic shift in VCP pI, which was inhibited by protein phosphatase 2A treatment. Furthermore, VCP association with ubiquitinated proteins was demonstrated in vector-transfected PC-12 cell lysates, whereas active Akt-transfected cells demonstrated a marked decrease in association of VCP with ubiquitinated proteins. We concluded that Akt phosphorylates VCP in vitro and in vivo, and VCP phosphorylation releases it from ubiquitinated substrate protein(s) possibly allowing ubiquitinated protein(s) to be degraded by the proteosome.     

GDNF Selectively Induces Microglial Activation and Neuronal Survival in CA1/CA3 Hippocampal Regions Exposed to NMDA Insult through Ret/ERK Signalling

The glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) is a potent survival factor for several neuronal populations in different brain regions, including the hippocampus. However, no information is available on the: (1) hippocampal subregions involved in the GDNF-neuroprotective actions upon excitotoxicity, (2) identity of GDNF-responsive hippocampal cells, (3) transduction pathways involved in the GDNF-mediated neuroprotection in the hippocampus. We addressed these questions in organotypic hippocampal slices exposed to GDNF in presence of N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) by immunoblotting, immunohistochemistry, and confocal analysis. In hippocampal slices GDNF acts through the activation of the tyrosine kinase receptor, Ret, without involving the NCAM-mediated pathway. Both Ret and ERK phosphorylation mainly occurred in the CA3 region where the two activated proteins co-localized. GDNF protected in a greater extent CA3 rather than CA1 following NMDA exposure. This neuroprotective effect targeted preferentially neurons, as assessed by NeuN staining. GDNF neuroprotection was associated with a significant increase of Ret phosphorylation in both CA3 and CA1. Interestingly, confocal images revealed that upon NMDA exposure, Ret activation occurred in microglial cells in the CA3 and CA1 following GDNF exposure. Collectively, this study shows that CA3 and CA1 hippocampal regions are highly responsive to GDNF-induced Ret activation and neuroprotection, and suggest that, upon excitotoxicity, such neuroprotection involves a GDNF modulation of microglial cell activity.     

Kinetics of Apoptosis and Expression of Apoptosis-Related Proteins in Rat CA3 Hippocampus Cells After Experimental Diffuse Brain Injury

The present study examined kinetics of apoptosis and expression of apoptosis-related proteins Bcl-2, Bax, and caspase-3 in the CA3 hippocampus cells after diffuse brain injury (DBI) induced experimentally in rats. Percentage of apoptotic cells and expressions of above proteins were examined by flow cytometry and immunohistochemistry. Substantial neuronal apoptosis was documented in the CA3 hippocampus cells after DBI (22.26 ± 2.97 % at 72 h after DBI vs. 2.92 ± 0.88 % in sham-operated animals). Expression of Bc1-2 decreased, while expression of Bax and caspase-3 increased after DBI, with caspase-3 expression peaking after that of Bax (72 vs. 48 h, respectively). Further, the Bc1-2/Bax expression ratio decreased prior to increase of caspase-3 expression. In conclusion, cell apoptosis and altered expressions of Bcl-2, Bax, and caspase-3 are present in the CA3 region of hippocampus after experimental DBI. Changes in the Bc1-2/Bax expression ratio may facilitate activation of caspase-3 and aggravate neuronal apoptosis after brain injury.     

Flow cytometric analysis of mitochondria from CA1 and CA3 regions of rat hippocampus reveals differences in permeability transition pore activation

Mitochondria are important in the pathophysiology of several neurodegenerative diseases, and mitochondrial production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), membrane depolarization, permeability changes and release of apoptogenic proteins are involved in these processes. Following brain insults, cell death often occurs in discrete regions of the brain, such as the subregions of the hippocampus. To analyse mitochondrial structure and function in such subregions, only small amounts of mitochondria are available. We developed a protocol for flow cytometric analysis of very small samples of isolated brain mitochondria, and analysed mitochondrial swelling and formation of ROS in mitochondria from the CA1 and CA3 regions of the hippocampus. Calcium-induced mitochondrial swelling was measured, and fluorescent probes were used to selectively stain mitochondria (nonyl acridine orange), to measure membrane potential (tetramethylrhodamine-methyl-ester, 1,1',3,3,3',3'-hexamethylindodicarbocyanine-iodide) and to measure production of ROS (2',7'-dichlorodihydrofluorescein-diacetate). We found that formation of ROS and mitochondrial permeability transition pore activation were higher in mitochondria from the CA1 than from the CA3 region, and propose that differences in mitochondrial properties partly underlie the selective vulnerability of the CA1 region to brain insults. We also conclude that flow cytometry is a useful tool to analyse the role of mitochondria in cell death processes.     

Regional health and function in the hippocampus: Evolutionary compromises for a critical brain region

The hippocampus is especially vulnerable to damage caused by metabolic dysregulation. However distinct sub-regions within the hippocampus differ by their relative susceptibility to such damage. Region CA1 pyramidal neurons are most sensitive to metabolic perturbations while region CA3 pyramidal neurons show more resistance, and these unique profiles of susceptibility are but one example that differentiates CA1/CA3 neurons. We present here a hypothesis that inextricably links the unique biochemistries of learning and memory in region CA1, to that of cell survival signaling, and in so doing, suggest an explanation for region CA1 susceptibility to metabolic dysfunction. Further, we propose a signaling mechanism to explain how both pathways can be simultaneously regulated. Critical to this process is the protein phosphatase PHLPP1. Finally we discuss the implications of this hypothesis and the inherent challenges it poses for treatment of neurological disorders resulting in reduced hippocampal function by increased neuron death.     

The remote consequences of hypoxia influence in perinatal development period on structurally functional characteristics of the rat brain

The study has shown that influence of acute hypoxia in perinatal period leads to structural changes in motor and visual of the neocortex for 20 postnatal days in the form of disturbance of the structural organisation of the neocortex layers. Different fields of hippocampus in perinatal period differently react to hypoxia, and evidence of existence of a long-term perinatal hypoxia was obtained. It is established that after action of acute hypoxia in all the fields there is a cellular destruction, and thinning of pyramidal neurones layers. The most expressed cellular destruction takes place in fields CA4 and CA3. In process of augmentation, the destruction of cells remains appreciable in the field CA4, reduced in the field CA3 and not found in the field CA1; however, in fascia dentate, the destruction of granular neurones with age augmentation increases. Along with in reduction of the dimensions of cellular bodies pyramidal neurones in all fields of hippocampus takes place. Also in all fields of hippocampus, activation of astrocytic reaction occurs, more expressed in the field CA4. The hypoxia influence in the early postnatal period can affect synaptogenes, particularly the formation of giant synapses in a dentate fascia. Study of functional features of the excitatory system of such animals has shown that hypoxia can induce appreciable disturbances of behavioural responses. In rats, disturbances of inhibiting functions of the cerebral cortex, raised anxiety, and spatial learning and working memory disturbances have been noted.     

Increased susceptibility to intermittent hypoxia in aging rats: changes in proteasomal activity,neuronal apoptosis and spatial function

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a frequent medical condition characterized by intermittent hypoxia (IH) during sleep, and is associated with neurodegenerative changes in several brain regions along with learning deficits. We hypothesized that aging rats exposed to IH during sleep would be particularly susceptible. Young (3-4 months) and aging (20-22 months) Sprague-Dawley rats were therefore exposed to either room air or IH for 14 days. Learning and memory was assessed with a standard place-training version of the Morris water maze. Aging rats exposed to room air (RA) or IH displayed significant spatial learning impairments compared with similarly exposed young rats; furthermore, the decrements in performance between RA and IH were markedly greater in aging compared with young rats (p < 0.01), and coincided with the magnitude of IH-induced decreases in cyclic AMP response element binding (CREB) phosphorylation. Furthermore, decreases in proteasomal activity occurred in both young and aging rats exposed to IH, but were substantially greater in the latter (p < 0.001). Neuronal apoptosis, as shown by cleaved caspase 3 expression, was particularly increased in aging rats exposed to IH (p < 0.01 versus young rats exposed to IH). Collectively, these findings indicate unique vulnerability of the aging rodent brain to IH, which is reflected at least in part, by the more prominent decreases in CREB phosphorylation and a marked inability of the ubiquitin-proteasomal pathway to adequately clear degraded proteins.     

Intermittent Hypoxia-Induced NF-κB and HO-1 Regulation in Human Endothelial EA.hy926 Cells

Intermittent hypoxia (IH) is a hallmark feature in obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) which is increasingly recognized as an independent risk factor for atherosclerosis. Oxidative stress, inflammation, and cell apoptosis are major pathological events initiating or accelerating atherogenesis. This study addressed whether IH would affect these proatherogenic factors in endothelial cells and the mechanistic pathways involved. EA.hy926 cells were exposed to intermittent normoxia or IH for different numbers of cycles (32, 64, or 96). IH exposure time-dependently raised cellular GSSG/GSH ratio, increased production of IL-6 and IL-8, and accelerated cell apoptosis and death, concurrent with activation of NF-κB and inhibition of Nrf2/HO-1 pathways. At 64 cycles, inhibition of NF-κB attenuated IH-induced cellular oxidative stress and accumulation of inflammatory cytokines in cell culture medium but aggravated IH-induced cell apoptosis, while stimulation of HO-1 suppressed IH-induced cellular oxidative stress and cell apoptosis without affecting accumulation of inflammatory cytokines in cell culture medium. We demonstrated that early stage of exposure to IH-induced oxidative and inflammatory stresses leading to acceleration of cell apoptosis via NF-κB and Nrf2/HO-1 pathways in endothelial cells, suggesting the potential mechanisms for IH-induced vascular pathogenesis, in resemblance to OSA.     

Activity dynamics and behavioral correlates of CA3 and CA1 hippocampal pyramidal neurons

The CA3 and CA1 pyramidal neurons are the major principal cell types of the hippocampus proper. The strongly recurrent collateral system of CA3 cells and the largely parallel-organized CA1 neurons suggest that these regions perform distinct computations. However, a comprehensive comparison between CA1 and CA3 pyramidal cells in terms of firing properties, network dynamics, and behavioral correlations is sparse in the intact animal. We performed large-scale recordings in the dorsal hippocampus of rats to quantify the similarities and differences between CA1 (n > 3,600) and CA3 (n > 2,200) pyramidal cells during sleep and exploration in multiple environments. CA1 and CA3 neurons differed significantly in firing rates, spike burst propensity, spike entrainment by the theta rhythm, and other aspects of spiking dynamics in a brain state-dependent manner. A smaller proportion of CA3 than CA1 cells displayed prominent place fields, but place fields of CA3 neurons were more compact, more stable, and carried more spatial information per spike than those of CA1 pyramidal cells. Several other features of the two cell types were specific to the testing environment. CA3 neurons showed less pronounced phase precession and a weaker position versus spike-phase relationship than CA1 cells. Our findings suggest that these distinct activity dynamics of CA1 and CA3 pyramidal cells support their distinct computational roles.     

慢性间歇低氧对幼鼠脑区p38MAPK的影响

目的：研究慢性间歇低氧对幼鼠部分脑区p38MAPK的影响。方法：SPF级健康雄性SD幼鼠（3-4周龄）50只,随机分为5组（n=10）：间歇低氧2周组（2IH组）、间歇低氧4周组（4IH组）、间歇低氧4周后恢复组（4F组）、对照2周组（2C组）和对照4周组（4C组）。建立慢性间歇低氧幼鼠模型,以RT-PCR法和Westemblot法分别测幼鼠海马及前额叶皮层p38MAPKmRNA和磷酸化p38MAPK（p-p38）蛋白的表达。结果：21H、4IH和4F组幼鼠海马、前额叶皮层的p38MAPK mRNA及p-p38蛋白均明显高于相应对照组（P均〈0．05）。结论：慢性间歇低氧可激活幼鼠部分脑区D38MAPK。     

Differential Expression of Proteins in Brain Regions of Alzheimer’s Disease Patients

Alzheimer’s disease (AD), a progressive neurodegenerative disorder and the most common form of dementia and cognitive impairment is usually characterized by neuritic amyloid plaques, cerebrovascular amyloidosis and neurofibrillary tangles. In order to find out the pathological protein expression, a quantitative proteome analysis of AD hippocampus, substantia nigra and cortex was performed and the extent of protein expression variation not only in contrast to age-matched controls but also among the understudied regions was analyzed. Expression alterations of 48 proteins were observed in each region along with significant co/contra regulation of malate dehydrogenase, lactate dehydrogenase B chain, aconitate hydratase, protein NipSnap homolog 2, actin cytoplasmic 1, creatine kinase U-type and glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase. These differentially expressed proteins are mainly involved in energy metabolism, cytoskeleton integration, apoptosis and several other potent cellular/molecular processes. Interaction association network analysis further confirms the close interacting relationship between the co/contra regulated differentially expressed proteins among all the three regions. Elucidation of co/contra regulation of differentially expressed proteins will be helpful to understand disease progression and functional alterations associated with AD.     

Chronic intermittent hypoxia decreases the expression of Na/H exchangers and HCO3-dependent transporters in mouse CNS.

Chronic intermittent hypoxia (CIH) is a component of several disease states, including obstructive sleep apnea, which results in neurocognitive and cardiovascular morbidity. Because chronic hypoxia can induce changes in metabolism and pH homeostasis, we hypothesized that CIH induces changes in the expression of acid-base transporters. Two- to three-day-old mice, exposed to alternating cycles of 2 min of hypoxia (6.0-7.5% O2) and 3 min of normoxia (21% O2) for 8 h/day for 28 days, demonstrated decreases in specific acid-base transport protein expression in most of the central nervous system (CNS). Sodium/hydrogen exchanger isoform 1 (NHE1) and sodium-bicarbonate cotransporter expression were decreased in all regions of the CNS but especially so in the cerebellum. NHE3, which is only expressed in the cerebellum, was also significantly decreased. Anion exchanger 3 protein was decreased in most brain regions, with the decrease being substantial in the hippocampus. These results indicate that CIH induces downregulation of the major acid-extruding transport proteins, NHE1 and sodium-bicarbonate cotransporter, in particular regions of the CNS. This downregulation in acid-extruding capacity may render neurons more prone to acidity and possibly to injury during CIH, especially in the cerebellum and hippocampus. Alternatively, it is possible that O2 consumption in these regions is decreased after CIH, with consequential downregulation in the expression of certain cellular proteins that may be less needed under such circumstances.     

Increased size and stability of CA1 and CA3 place fields in HCN1 knockout mice

Hippocampal CA1 and CA3 pyramidal neuron place cells encode the spatial location of an animal through localized firing patterns called "place fields." To explore the mechanisms that control place cell firing and their relationship to spatial memory, we studied mice with enhanced spatial memory resulting from forebrain-specific knockout of the HCN1 hyperpolarization-activated cation channel. HCN1 is strongly expressed in CA1 neurons and in entorhinal cortex grid cells, which provide spatial information to the hippocampus. Both CA1 and CA3 place fields were larger but more stable in the knockout mice, with the effect greater in CA1 than CA3. As HCN1 is only weakly expressed in CA3 place cells, their altered activity likely reflects loss of HCN1 in grid cells. The more pronounced changes in CA1 likely reflect the intrinsic contribution of HCN1. The enhanced place field stability may underlie the effect of HCN1 deletion to facilitate spatial learning and memory.     

Mild sustained and intermittent hypoxia induce apoptosis in PC-12 cells via different mechanisms

Episodic hypoxia, a characteristic feature of obstructive sleep apnea, induces cellular changes and apoptosis in brain regions associated with neurocognitive function. To investigate whether mild, intermittent hypoxia would induce more extensive neuronal damage than would a similar degree of sustained hypoxia, rat pheochromocytoma PC-12 neuronal cells were subjected to either sustained (5% O₂) or intermittent (alternating 5% O₂ 35 min, 21% O₂ 25 min) hypoxia for 2 or 4 days. Quantitative assessment of apoptosis showed that while mild sustained hypoxia did not significantly increase cell apoptosis at 2 days (1.31 ± 0.29-fold, n = 8; P = NS), a significant increase in apoptosis occurred after 4 days (2.25 ± 0.4-fold, n = 8; P < 0.002), without increased caspase activation. Furthermore, caspase inhibition with the general caspase inhibitor N-benzyloxycarbonyl-Val-Ala-Asp-fluoromethyl ketone (Z-VAD-FMK) did not modify sustained hypoxia-induced apoptosis. In contrast, mild, intermittent hypoxia induced significant increases in apoptosis at 2 days (3.72 ± 1.43-fold, n = 8; P < 0.03) and at 4 days (4.57 ± 0.82-fold, n = 8; P < 0.001) that was associated with enhanced caspase activity and attenuated by Z-VAD-FMK pretreatment. We conclude that intermittent hypoxia induces an earlier and more extensive apoptotic response than sustained hypoxia and that this response is at least partially dependent on caspase-mediated pathways. In contrast, caspases do not seem to play a role in sustained hypoxia-induced apoptosis. These findings suggest that different signaling pathways are involved in sustained and intermittent hypoxia-induced cell injury and may contribute to the understanding of differential brain susceptibility to sustained and intermittent hypoxia. episodic hypoxia; neuronal cell death; caspase; hypoxic adaptation     

Differential modification of the phospholipid profile by transient ischemia in rat hippocampal CA1 and CA3 regions

The hippocampal CA1 region is most susceptible to cerebral ischemia in both rodents and humans, whereas CA3 is remarkably resistant. Here, we investigated the possible role of membrane lipids in differential susceptibility in these regions. Transient ischemia was induced in rats via bilateral occlusion of common carotid arteries and membrane lipids were analyzed by mass spectrometry. While lipid profile differences between the intact CA1 and CA3 were rather minor, ischemia caused significant pyramidal cell death with concomittant reduction of phosphatidylserine, phosphatidylinositol, phosphatidylethanolamine, plasmalogen and sphingomyelin only in CA1. The phospholipid loss was evenly distributed in most molecular species. Ischemia also significantly increased cell death mediator ceramides only in CA1. Our data suggests that differential susceptibility to ischemia between CA1 and CA3 is not linked to their unique phospholipid profile. Also, selective activation of phospholipase A2, which primarily releases polyunsaturated fatty acids, might not be characteristic to cell death in CA1.