Protein and ionic channel transcripts of the meninges - experimental study at University of Sonora, México

Abstract

Introduction. The meninges are three protective layers of tissue, which have a crucial importance in central nervous system. The meningeal tissue functions primarily to support the central nervous system (CNS) while maintaining homeostasis of the neuraxis, but recently discovered information suggests a role far beyond mechanical protection. Neural communication in the brain is based on homeostasis and the dynamics of intracellular Ca2 +. In neurons, the release of neurotransmitters is controlled by presynaptic Ca2 + entry, while the formation of memory traces depends on the post-synaptic transients of Ca2 + in the dendritic spines. Aim of the study. This work provides an experimental study of the cranial meningeal function and ultrastructure that should change the view of meninges as a merely protective membrane. Considering the anatomical distribution in the CNS, it can be observed that the meninges largely penetrate inside the neural tissue. Thus, meninges may modulate most of the physiological and pathological events of the CNS by the presence of the ionic channels and proteins. This extensive experiment on laboratory animals will offer a different view of meninges’ multiple roles in the context of a functional network with the neural tissue. Materials and methods. All experiments were made according to the ethical policies for animal care and handling of the University of Sonora, Mexico. The meningeal tissue was collect from four 2 months-old ( date of birth 11.06.2019) albino male rats. The experimental procedure was composed of: cell culture, total RNA isolation and reverse transcription protocol, reverse transcription and cDNA synthesis, PCR, Gel electrophoresis. Results. Through this study we evaluated the expression of potassium channels type Kir, Kv, BK. The meningeal tissue expressed the subunits Kir 1.1, Kir 3.3, Kir 4.1, Kir 6.2 and channel type BKa. Conclusions. The results obtained suggest that meningeal cells have an important repertoire of potassium channels and calcium-mediated intracellular signaling mechanisms that should be studied pharmacologically and molecularly to help understand meningeal cell physiology and its contribution to brain cell communication.