Extracellular zinc protects against acidosis-induced injury of cells expressing Ca2+-permeable acid-sensing ion channels.

Acidosis is a common feature of neurological conditions including brain ischemia, epileptic seizures, and neurotrauma. Activation of Ca(2+)-permeable acid-sensing ion channels (ASIC1a) is involved in acidosis-mediated ischemic brain injury. Zn(2+) is a divalent cation concentrated in nerve terminals in various brain regions, and is released into the extracellular space during excitatory stimulation.