Elevated plasma homocysteine (Hcy) levels lead to hyperhomocysteinemia, a condition associated with various neurological disorders affecting multiple brain regions, including the hippocampus. In this study, we investigated the effects of exposing cultured rat hippocampal neurons to Hcy concentrations corresponding to mild, moderate, and severe hyperhomocysteinemia. A short 24-hour exposure had minimal effects, whereas prolonged exposure up to 14 days moderately enhanced hippocampal excitability without altering the gene expression of voltage-dependent calcium, sodium, or potassium channels or intracellular calcium levels. These findings suggest that Hcy-induced changes in neuronal excitability may contribute to neuropathologies associated with hyperhomocysteinemia.

• MeSH
• Hippocampus * cytology   drug effects   MeSH
• Homocysteine * pharmacology   MeSH
• Ion Channels * genetics   metabolism   MeSH
• Rats MeSH
• Cells, Cultured MeSH
• Neurons * drug effects   metabolism   cytology   MeSH
• Rats, Sprague-Dawley MeSH
• Gene Expression Regulation * drug effects   MeSH
• Calcium metabolism   MeSH
• Animals MeSH
• Check Tag
• Rats MeSH
• Animals MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH