Aim: 

Cortical Spreading depression (CSD) is involved in the pathophysiology of various diseases as migraine and epilepsys but previous studies have demonstrated that it protects against subsequent ischemia episodes. The mechanism of this neuroprotection is not clear. CSD causes an increase in many energy-demanding cellular processes leading to an increase in oxygen consumption and metabolic rate; this sort of energetic stress could be stimulus for cellular adaptation to episodes of low energetic substrates supply, such as during ischemia.

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of CSD on the expression of the following genes involved in the cellular response to energetic stress: AMP-activated protein kinase-a1 (AMPK-a1) and phospho-AMP-activated protein kinase (p-AMPK-a1).

Methods: 

CSD was induced for 15 min in 3 groups of male Winstar rats by applying 10% KCl on cortical surface. The rats were sacrificed after 2 h (group 1), 4 h (group 2) or 24 h (group 3) after CSD induction. Prefrontal cortex was dissected and the expression of AMPK-a1 and p-AMPK-a1 protein was evaluated by western blot.

Results: 

The results showed an increase of p-AMPK-a1 in all groups, while no modification in AMPK-a1 levels was seen.

Conclusions: 

The results support an involvement of AMPK-a1 activation in the neuroprotection induced by CSD. In fact p-AMPK-a1 is involved in signalling energy substrate deficits inside cells during energy stress conditions.