In the brain, pH can be lowered in both healthy and disease states. Previously, we showed that moderate extracellular acidification (down to pHo 7.0), but not intracellular acidification, leads to mitochondrial depolarization in synaptosomes. This indicates that the plasma membranes of neuronal presynaptic endings have proton receptors that can induce mitochondrial dysfunction when activated. In the present paper we attempt to identify this hypothetical receptor. First, we have demonstrated that lowering pHo to 7.0 does not induce sodium influx as monitored by the fluorescent dye Sodium Green. This fact, in conjunction with the absence of calcium influx in the same conditions – demonstrated previously, excludes ion channels as possible receptors. However, we showed that acidification‑induced mitochondrial depolarization is sensitive to thapsigargin – an inhibitor of calcium release from intracellular stores, U73122 – an inhibitor of phospholipase C, as well as Cu2+ and Zn2+, which can block the metabotropic proton receptor ovarian cancer G protein‑coupled receptor 1 (OGR1). Furthermore, using fluorescent dye Fluo‑3 we have demonstrated that moderate extracellular acidification induces a cytosolic calcium increase. Excess calcium was scavenged by mitochondria (monitored by fluorescent dye Rhod‑2). Our results suggest that the metabotropic OGR1 is a hypothetical presynaptic receptor for low pH. Its activation leads to phospholipase C activation and calcium release from the endoplasmic reticulum followed by accumulation in mitochondria, which likely causes a decrease in mitochondrial membrane potential.
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