Borisova T. Active transport of glutamate in brain nerve terminals

Object: system of active glutamate transport in rat brain nerve terminals and synaptic vesicles. Aim: to investigate biochemical mechanisms of regulation and modulation of active glutamate transport in brain nerve terminals. Methods: preparative biochemistry, laser correlative spectroscopy, flow cytometry, confocal laser scan microscopy, spectrofluorimetry, and radioisotope technique. Using experimental models of hypergravity loading in vitro and cholesterol deficiency in vitro, the changes in the key characteristics of glutamatergic neurotransmission were analysed, i.e. glutamate uptake by rat brain nerve terminals mediated by high affinity Na+-dependent glutamate transporters; tonic and transporter-dependent release of glutamate; the extracellular level of glutamate, stimulated by depolarization exocytosis of synaptic vesicles, plasma membrane potential and functional state of synaptic vesicles. Based on the experimental data obtained from the models, it was shown how changes of these characteristics impaired normal functioning of synapse. Different mechanisms and conceptual scheme of the development of synaptic dysfunction were proposed. Results of dissertation were implemented in State (National) Space Program of Ukraine. Scope: organisation of medical and biological profile.