Abstract
Primary astrocyte cultures derived from neonatal rat cerebral cortex were treated for 5 min with 0.5 mM or 5.0 mM AlCl
3, and the incubation medium was analyzed by HPLC for the content of released glutamate (Glu), taurine (Tau), serine (Ser) and the nucleoside adenosine (Ade). At 0.5 mM, AlCl
3 stimulated Tau release to about 170% of basal levels, but did not affect the release of the other compounds. Treatment with 5.0 mM AlCl
3 enhanced the release of Tau, Glu and Ade, to 800%, 1000% and 250%, respectively, but decreased the release of Ser to 70% compared to basal levels. The enhanced release of these neuroactive compounds from astrocytes may contribute to changes in neural transmission known to accompany exposure to aluminum.
