Loop Diuretics Inhibit Ischemia-Induced Intracellular Ca(2+) Overload in Neurons via the Inhibition of Voltage-Gated Ca(2+) and Na(+) Channels

One consequence of ischemic stroke is disruption of intracellular ionic homeostasis. Intracellular overload of both Na(+) and Ca(2+) has been linked to neuronal death in this pathophysiological state. The etiology of ionic imbalances resulting from stroke-induced ischemia and acidosis includes the dysregulation of multiple plasma membrane transport proteins, such as increased activity of sodium-potassium-chloride cotransporter-1 (NKCC-1). Experiments using NKCC1 antagonists, bumetanide (BMN) and ethacrynic acid (EA), were carried out to determine if inhibition of this cotransporter affects Na(+) and Ca(2+) overload observed following in vitro ischemia-acidosis. Fluorometric Ca(2+) and Na(+) measurements were performed using cultured cortical neurons, and measurements of whole-cell membrane currents were used to determine target(s) of BMN and EA, other than the electroneutral NKCC-1. Both BMN and EA depressed ischemia-acidosis induced [Ca(2+)](i) overload without appreciably reducing [Na(+)](i) increases. Voltage-gated Ca(2+) channels were inhibited by both BMN and EA with half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC(50)) values of 4 and 36 μM, respectively. Similarly, voltage-gated Na(+) channels were blocked by BMN and EA with IC(50) values of 13 and 30 μM, respectively. However, neither BMN nor EA affected currents mediated by acid-sensing ion channels or ionotropic glutamatergic receptors, both of which are known to produce [Ca(2+)](i) overload following ischemia. Data suggest that loop diuretics effectively inhibit voltage-gated Ca(2+) and Na(+) channels at clinically relevant concentrations, and block of these channels by these compounds likely contributes to their clinical effects. Importantly, inhibition of these channels, and not NKCC1, by loop diuretics reduces [Ca(2+)](i) overload in neurons during ischemia-acidosis, and thus BMN and EA could potentially be used therapeutically to lessen injury following ischemic stroke.