Caspase-3 Activity and Autophagy Expression in the Development of Neuronal Resistance to Glutamate Toxicity

Two periods of autophagy activation, differently significant for the development of resistance, were demonstrated in the model of neuronal resistance to the toxic effect of glutamate (deprivation of trophic factors). The autophagy inhibitor 3-methyladenine (3-MA) at a concentration of 1.25 mM significantly suppresses resistance development, but only if applied immediately after deprivation of trophic factors. Inhibition of autophagy with 3-MA immediately during deprivation does not affect resistance production. In addition, activation of autophagy is responsible for the decrease in caspase-3 activity, although the mechanism of this process remains unclear. We hypothesize that resistance production in neurons is mediated by a decrease in caspase-3 activity as a result of autophagy activation.