OBJECTIVETo study the changes of glucocorticoid receptor (GR) expression in embryonic rat cortical neurons exposed to transient Mg(2+)-free treatment.

METHODSSix 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 Mg(2+)-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 Mg(2+)-free treatment.

RESULTSCompared to the control group, the Mg(2+)-free group displayed the significantly less accumulated optical density (AOD) of GR immunoreactivity 12 days after transient Mg(2+)-free treatment (p<0.05). On the contrary, GR mRNA expression increased significantly 1 and 7 days after transient Mg(2+)-free treatment in the Mg(2+)-free group (p<0.05).

CONCLUSIONSGR expression is modified following Mg-free-induced injury in cultured developing neurons in rats.