Influence of intra- and extracellular acidification on free radical formation and mitochondria membrane potential in rat brain synaptosomes.

Brain ischemia is accompanied by lowering of intra- and extracellular pH. Stroke often leads to irreversible damage of synaptic transmission by unknown mechanism. We investigated an influence of lowering of pH(i) and pH(o) on free radical formation in synaptosomes.

Glutamate-induced free radical formation in rat brain synaptosomes is not dependent on intrasynaptosomal mitochondria membrane potential.

Glutamate induces reactive oxygen species formation (ROS) in neurons. Free radicals can potentially be synthesized by NADPH oxidase or mitochondria. The primary source of ROS origin has yet to be identified.