Effect of hypoxia on NR1 subunit of NMDA receptor in rat cortex and hippocampus

Objective To observe the expression and phosphorylation of N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor NR1 subunit in rat cortex and hippocampus under high altitude hypoxia. Methods The adult SD rats were exposed to hypobaric hypoxia imitating 5 500-meter high altitude for 8 h daily for 3, 7, 14, 21 d. Immunohistochemical staining, Western blotting and co-immunoprecipitation were used to detect the expression and phosphorylation of NR1 in rat cortex and hippocampus. Results Both immunohistochemistry and Western blotting showed NR1 expression in rat cortex and hippocampus was increased under hypoxia in a time-dependent manner. The tyrosine phosphorylation of hypoxia groups was increased, and reached the peak on day 14 after hypoxia, then decreased, still higher than that of control groups till day 21 (P0.01). Conclusion The increase of tyrosine phosphorylation of NR1 subunit in rat cortex and hippocampus under hypoxia may be a key influencing factor for NMDA receptor function.