Effect of genetic differences on K+-induced metabolic changes in allogeneic murine brain cortical cells incubated in vitro.

Stimulation of oxygen uptake by brain cortex cells with high K+ concentration is one of model reactions characteristic for the functional activity in vitro. The present study was undertaken to clarify the initial findings of the near abolition of K+-induced stimulation of oxygen uptake by mixed brain cortex cells which originate from genetically different mice. Increase in K+-stimulated oxygen consumption by mixed brain cortex cells from H-2 compatible mice (C3H/Cbi/Bom and CBA/J strains) reached 150%. K+-induced oxygen uptake by mixed cells from H-2 incompatible mice (A/Ph and C3H/Cbi/Bom) reached 104%. K+-stimulated respiration by allogeneic cells from congenic lines with H-2 differential loci was also lowered. K+-induced breakdown of ATP and creatine phosphate was similar in both allogeneic cells (to 72% and 64%, respectively) and syngeneic controls (to 72% and 61%, respectively). Factors involved in the demonstration of allogeneic interactions of brain cortex cells were tested. K+-mediated metabolic activity in allogeneic brain cortex cells was dependent on strong antigenic differences, cell-cell contacts and optimal amount of interacting cells. It, therefore, seems that genetic differences such as in H-2 complex linked alloantigens may participate in alterations of some metabolic processes of the brain function.