Effect of hypoxia on protein metabolism in neuron- and neuroglia cell-enriched fractions from rabbit brain

Abstract Albino rabbits were exposed to 8% oxygen for various time periods and the influence on protein synthesis in vitro was assayed by measuring incorporation of labeled leucine into trichloroacetic acid-precipitable material during incubation of brain slices. Some regional differences in response to hypoxia were seen. The results from neuron- and neuroglia cell-enriched fractions from cerebral cortex obtained by a sucrose-Ficoll gradient centrifugation method demonstrated more pronounced and cell-characteristic changes after hypoxia. After 3 hr hypoxia the leucine incorporation decreased most markedly in the neuroglia-enriched fraction. Exposure to hypoxia for 12 hr preferentially activated the neuronal incorporation of leucine. Hypoxia for 24 hr produced in all fractions a return towards control values. Changed neuron/neuroglia cell reactions were seen if exposure to 8% oxygen was followed by room air. The results of the in vitro experiments were compared with in vivo findings and discussed in relation to previous morphological and biochemical studies.