RUI: The Modulatory Role of pH in Hippocampal Neuron Metabolic Responses to Challenge

酸碱平衡或酸碱平衡对包括大脑在内的身体许多器官的正常功能至关重要。然而，尽管人们普遍认为pH稳态对脑功能至关重要，但人们对pH变化对神经细胞（神经元）功能的影响知之甚少。直到最近，科学家们才认识到大脑pH值的变化在神经元信号传导中起着重要作用。神经递质是神经元对电信号的反应而释放出来的，它影响大脑的pH值。此外，大脑的pH值也影响神经元对神经递质的反应。这些发现表明pH值的变化可以调节神经元的电功能。众所周知，在其他系统中，pH值的变化会影响许多细胞过程，包括能量和蛋白质代谢。尽管有迹象表明pH值会影响神经元功能，但人们对pH值变化在神经元代谢中的作用或神经元如何调节pH值知之甚少。目前的研究探索了pH值、能量代谢和蛋白质代谢之间的关系，这些关系来自大脑中与学习和记忆有关的区域——海马体。我们评估了pH值的短暂变化对神经递质刺激和能量挑战的神经元代谢反应的影响。本研究的结果将提供关于脑pH变化在神经元功能的几个重要方面，特别是蛋白质和能量代谢中的作用的重要信息，并将提供关于哺乳动物脑pH调节的新信息。＊＊＊

9319433 Susman Acid-base balance, or pH homeostasis, is crucial for the proper function of many organs within the body, including the brain. However, despite the general agreement that pH homeostasis is crucial for brain function, little is known about the impact of changes in pH on nerve cell (neuron) functioning. It was only recently that scientists recognized that changes in brain pH play a role in neuron signalling. Neurotransmitters, released from neurons in response to an electrical signal, influence brain pH. Further, brain pH influences the response of neurons to neurotransmitters. These findings indicate that changes in pH modulate neuron electrical functioning. It is well-known in other systems that pH changes affect many cellular processes, including energy and protein metabolism. Despite indications that pH affects neuronal function, little is known about the role of pH changes in metabolism of neurons or of how pH is regulated in neurons. Current research explores the relationships among pH, energy metabolism and protein metabolism in slices from the region of the brain implicated in learning and memory, the hippocampus. We assess the impact of brief changes in pH on neuronal metabolic responses to neurotransmitter stimulation and to energy challenges. Results from this study will provide important information about the role of changes in brain pH in several important aspects of neuronal function, particularly protein and energy metabolism, and will provide new information about pH regulation in the mammalian brain. ***