Abstract:OBJECTIVE: To study the changes of glucocorticoid receptor (GR) expression in embryonic rat cortical neurons exposed to transient Mg2+-free treatment. METHODS: Six days after rat cortical neuronal cultures, two groups were created based on the medium to which were transiently exposed. The control group was exposed to a physiological solution (PS), and the Mg2+-free group was exposed to the same medium as the control group except for the removal of magnesium. The expression of GR mRNA and protein was determined by real-time PCR and immunocytochemistry staining 1, 7 and 12 days after transient Mg2+-free treatment. RESULTS: Compared to the control group, the Mg2+-free group displayed the significantly less accumulated optical density (AOD) of GR immunoreactivity 12 days after transient Mg2+-free treatment (P<0.05). On the contrary, GR mRNA expression increased significantly 1 and 7 days after transient Mg2+-free treatment in the Mg2+-free group (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: GR expression is modified following Mg-free-induced injury in cultured developing neurons in rats.［Chin J Contemp Pediatr, 2010, 12 (3):211-214］
