Preconditioning with spreading depression activates specifically protein kinase C delta

Preconditioning with brief ischemia or spreading depression (SD) confers to lerance in cortical neurons to subsequent episode of ischemia. In myocardiu m a similar preconditioning is achieved by mechanisms, which are mediated b y protein kinase C (PKC) alpha, delta, epsilon or zeta isoform. We induced SD by cortical application of KCI in the rat and analyzed cortical tissues after recovery of 30 min, 4 h and 12 h. While no changes at protein levels or activity of PKC alpha, epsilon or zeta were detected, a considerable inc rease in membrane translocation of PKC delta was seen at 30 min and 12 h. A significant increase at mRNA level, protein amount and autophosphorylation at 12 h confirmed the late activation of PKC delta, which may be involved in neuronal protection by preconditioning. NeuroReport 12:269-273 (C) 2001 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.