Activation of DOR attenuates anoxic K+ derangement via inhibition of Na+ entry in mouse cortex

We have recently found that in the mouse cortex, activation of delta-opioid receptor (DOR) attenuates the disruption of K+ homeostasis induced by hypoxia or oxygen-glucose deprivation. This novel observation suggests that DOR may protect neurons from hypoxic/ischemic insults via the regulation of K+ homeostasis because the disruption of K+ homeostasis plays a critical role in neuronal injury under hypoxic/ischemic stress. The present study was performed to explore the ionic mechanism underlying the DOR-induced neuroprotection. Because anoxia causes Na+ influx and thus stimulates K+ leakage, we investigated whether DOR protects the cortex from anoxic K+ derangement by targeting the Na+-based K+ leakage. By using V-sensitive microelectrodes in mouse cortical slices, we showed that 1) lowering Na+ concentration and substituting with impermeable N-methyl-D-glucamine caused a concentration-dependent attenuation of anoxic K+ derangement; 2) lowering Na+ concentration by substituting with permeable Li+ tended to potentiate the anoxic K+ derangement; and 3) the DOR-induced protection against the anoxic K+ responses was largely abolished by low-Na+ perfusion irrespective of the substituted cation. We conclude that external Na+ concentration greatly influences anoxic K+ derangement and that DOR activation likely attenuates anoxic K+ derangement induced by the Na+-activated mechanisms in the cortex.