Na+-dependent chloride transporter (NKCC1)-null mice exhibit less gray and white matter damage after focal cerebral ischemia

We previously demonstrated that pharmacological inhibition of Na+-K+-Cl- cotransporter isoform 1 (NKCC1) is neuroprotective in in vivo and in vitro ischemic models. In this study, we investigated whether genetic ablation of NKCC1 provides neuroprotection after ischemia. Focal ischemia was induced by 2 hours occlusion of the left middle cerebral artery (MCAO) followed by 10 or 24 hours reperfusion. Two hours MCAO and ten or twenty-four hours reperfusion caused infarction (similar to85 mm(3)) in NKCC1 wild-type (NKCC1(+/+)) mice. Infarction volume in NKCC1(-/-) mice was reduced by similar to30% to 46%. Heterozygous mutant (NKCC1(+/-)) mice showed similar to28% reduction in infarction (P>0.05). Two hours MCAO and twenty-four hours reperfusion led to a significant increase in brain edema in NKCC1(+/+) mice. In contrast, NKCC1(+/-) and NKCC1(-/-) mice exhibited similar to50% less edema (P<0.05). Moreover, white matter damage was assessed by immunostaining of amyloid precursor protein (APP). An increase in APP was detected in NKCC1(+/+) mice after 2 hours MCAO and 10 hours reperfusion. However, NKCC1(-/-) mice exhibited significantly less APP accumulation (P<0.05). Oxygen-glucose deprivation (OGD) induced similar to67% cell death and a fourfold increase in Na+ accumulation in cultured NKCC1(+/+) cortical neurons. OGD-mediated cell death and Na+ influx were significantly reduced in NKCC1(-/-) neurons (P<0.05). In addition, inhibition of NKCC1 by bumetanide resulted in similar protection in NKCC1(+/+) neurons and astrocytes (P<0.05). These results imply that stimulation of NKCC1 activity is important in ischemic neuronal damage.