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Investigating the Effects of Homocysteine as an Agonist on Invertebrate Glutamatergic Synapses
Impulse
  • Elizabeth Grau, University of Kentucky
  • Alexandra E. Stanback, University of Kentucky
  • Alec Bradley, University of Kentucky
  • Danielle Cantrell, University of Kentucky
  • Samantha Eversole, University of Kentucky
  • Carolyn Grachen, University of Kentucky
  • Kaylee Hall, University of Kentucky
  • Danielle Hawthorne, University of Kentucky
  • Claire Kinmon, University of Kentucky
  • Paula Ortiz Guerrero, University of Kentucky
  • Bhavik Patel, University of Kentucky
  • Kaitlyn Samuels, University of Kentucky
  • Chinni Suryadevara, University of Kentucky
  • Gia Valdes, University of Kentucky
  • Samuel Wycoff, University of Kentucky
  • Robin L Cooper, University of Kentucky
Abstract

Hyperhomocysteinemia (HHcy) in mammals can produce neurological deficits, such as memory loss. The cause of the neurological issues is assumed to be due to homocysteine (HCY) binding to glutamatergic receptors in the central nervous system (CNS). High levels of HCY in the CNS are also associated with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) and Parkinson’s disease. Thus, understanding the detailed mechanisms of HCY in model preparations could be useful in developing potential treatments to neurodegenerative diseases with overlapping symptoms to HHcy. The aim of this study is to investigate the efficacy of HCY as an agonist at glutamatergic synapses in invertebrates. The glutamatergic synapses of the larval Drosophila melanogaster (D. melanogaster) and Procambarus clarkii (P. clarkii) neuromuscular junctions (NMJs) were utilized to examine the effects of applying HCY. Measurements of evoked synaptic transmission in both preparations revealed that 100 mM of HCY did not have any consistent effect. The expectation was that the acute action of HCY would have activated the glutamate receptors and then desensitized them so evoked transmission would be blocked. The pharmacological receptor profile of these NMJ receptors are of a quisqualate subtype and not a kainate, α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid (AMPA) or N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDA) subtype. Consequently, HCY may not have any action on quisqualate glutamate receptor subtypes. The findings of this experiments could provide clinical implications regarding relevant pharmacological treatments in neurodegenerative diseases such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and Parkinson’s disease.

Document Type
Article
Publication Date
1-1-2018
Notes/Citation Information

Published in Impulse, v. 2018, p. 1-10.

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Funding Information

Funded by student laboratory fees Dept. of Biology, Univ. of KY. The course is neurophysiology lab (Bio446, Bio650) and personal funds (RLC).

Citation Information
Elizabeth Grau, Alexandra E. Stanback, Alec Bradley, Danielle Cantrell, et al.. "Investigating the Effects of Homocysteine as an Agonist on Invertebrate Glutamatergic Synapses" Impulse Vol. 2018 (2018) p. 1 - 10
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/robin_cooper/116/