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Biomedical subjects

M Morari

Publications and source records attributed to M Morari.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Modeling and closed-loop control of hypnosis by means of bispectral index (BIS) with isoflurane.

A model-based closed-loop control system is presented to regulate hypnosis with the volatile anesthetic isoflurane. Hypnosis is assessed by means of the bispectral index (BIS), a processed parameter derived from the electroencephalogram. Isoflurane is administered through a closed-circuit respiratory system. The model for control was identified on a population of 20 healthy volunteers. It consists of three parts: a model for the respiratory system, a pharmacokinetic model and a pharmacodynamic model to predict BIS at the effect compartment. A cascaded internal model controller is employed. The master controller compares the actual BIS and the reference value set by the anesthesiologist and provides expired isoflurane concentration references to the slave controller. The slave controller maneuvers the fresh gas anesthetic concentration entering the respiratory system. The controller is designed to adapt to different respiratory conditions. Anti-windup measures protect against performance degradation in the event of saturation of the input signal. Fault detection schemes in the controller cope with BIS and expired concentration measurement artifacts. The results of clinical studies on humans are presented.

Adult↗

A reliable gait phase detection system.

A new highly reliable gait phase detection system, which can be used in gait analysis applications and to control the gait cycle of a neuroprosthesis for walking, is described. The system was designed to detect in real-time the following gait phases: stance, heel-off, swing, and heel-strike. The gait phase detection system employed a gyroscope to measure the angular velocity of the foot and three force sensitive resistors to assess the forces exerted by the foot on the shoe sole during walking. A rule-based detection algorithm, which was running on a portable microprocessor board, processed the sensor signals. In the presented experimental study ten able body subjects and six subjects with impaired gait tested the device in both indoor and outdoor environments (0-25 degrees C). The subjects were asked to walk on flat and irregular surfaces, to step over small obstacles, to walk on inclined surfaces, and to ascend and descend stairs. Despite the significant variation in the individual walking styles the system achieved an overall detection reliability above 99% for both subject groups for the tasks involving walking on flat, irregular, and inclined surfaces. In the case of stair climbing and descending tasks the success rate of the system was above 99% for the able body subjects and above 96 % for the subjects with impaired gait. The experiments also showed that the gait phase detection system, unlike other similar devices, was insensitive to perturbations caused by nonwalking activities such as weight shifting between legs during standing, feet sliding, sitting down, and standing up.

Adult↗

Stability criterion for controlling standing in able-bodied subjects.

A new stability criterion that can be used to assess the standing condition of a subject from center of pressure (CoP) measurements is presented. This criterion can be applied, for example, to control a standing prosthesis, which should allow a paraplegic subject to stand up, sit down and stand safely without using hands for support. Experiments conducted with able-bodied subjects enabled us to establish a relationship between its stability and the subject's CoP position. Four CoP stability zones were identified: high preference, low preference, undesirable and unstable zones. The high preference zone is defined as the area where the CoP is found 99% of the time during quiet standing. The area where the CoP is found during the remaining 1% of the time is called the low preference zone. The undesirable zone is defined as the CoP area where the subject is forced to change posture in order to maintain balance, and the unstable zone is defined as the CoP area in which the subject is forced to step forward, backward or sideways to maintain stability. A general model of the proposed four stability zones was derived, which can be used to compute stability zones a priori for any subject and thus allows one to assess the subject's stability condition from the CoP measurements.

Adult↗

Nociceptin/orphanin FQ and neurotransmitter release in the central nervous system.

In this article, the effect of nociceptin (orphanin FQ) on transmitter release in the central nervous system in vitro and in vivo is reviewed. Nociceptin inhibits the electrically or K(+)-evoked noradrenaline, dopamine, serotonin, and glutamate release in brain slices from guinea-pig, rat, and mouse. This effect is usually naloxone-resistant but antagonized by OP(4) receptor antagonists like [Phe(1)psi(CH(2)-NH)Gly(2)]-nociceptin(1-13)NH(2). In the rat in vivo, nociceptin diminishes acetylcholine release in the striatum, reduces dopamine release, and prevents the stimulatory effect of morphine on this transmitter in the nucleus accumbens and also elevates extracellular glutamate and gamma-aminobutyric acid levels in mesencephalic dopaminergic areas. The effect of nociceptin on the mesencephalic dopaminergic system might explain its actions on motor behavior.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Modulation of 5-hydroxytryptamine efflux from rat cortical synaptosomes by opioids and nociceptin.

The modulation of [(3)H]-5-hydroxytryptamine ([(3)H]-5-HT) efflux from superfused rat cortical synaptosomes by delta, kappa, mu and ORL(1) opioid receptor agonists and antagonists was studied. Spontaneous [(3)H]-5-HT efflux was reduced (20% inhibition) by either 0.5 microM tetrodotoxin or Ca(2+)-omission. Ten mM K(+)-evoked [(3)H]-5-HT overflow was largely Ca(2+)-dependent (90%) and tetrodotoxin-sensitive (50%). The delta receptor agonist, deltorphin-I, failed to modulate the K(+)-evoked neurotransmitter efflux up to 0.3 microM. The kappa and the mu receptor agonists, U-50,488 and endomorphin-1, inhibited K(+)-evoked [(3)H]-5-HT overflow (EC(50)=112 and 7 nM, respectively; E(max)=28 and 29% inhibition, respectively) in a norBinaltorphimine- (0.3 microM) and naloxone- (1 microM) sensitive manner, respectively. None of these agonists significantly affected spontaneous [(3)H]-5-HT efflux. The ORL(1) receptor agonist nociceptin inhibited both spontaneous (EC(50)=67 nM) and K(+)-evoked (EC(50)=13 nM; E(max)=52% inhibition) [(3)H]-5-HT efflux. The effect of NC was insensitive to naloxone (up to 10 microM), but was antagonized by [Nphe(1)]nociceptin(1-13)NH(2) (a novel selective ORL(1) receptor antagonist; pA(2)=6.7) and by naloxone benzoylhydrazone (pA(2)=6.3). The ORL(1) ligand [Phe(1)psi(CH(2)-NH)Gly(2)]nociceptin(1-13)NH(2) also inhibited K(+) stimulated [(3)H]-5-HT overflow (EC(50)=64 nM; E(max)=31% inhibition), but its effect was partially antagonized by 10 microM naloxone. It is concluded that the ORL(1) receptor is the most important presynaptic modulator of neocortical 5-HT release within the opioid receptor family. This suggests that the ORL(1)/nociceptin system may have a powerful role in the control of cerebral 5-HT-mediated biological functions.

Analgesics, Opioid↗

Increased responsivity of glutamate release from the substantia nigra pars reticulata to striatal NMDA receptor blockade in a model of Parkinson's disease. A dual probe microdialysis study in hemiparkinsonian rats.

Dual probe microdialysis was employed in freely moving 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) hemilesioned rats to investigate the effects of blockade of N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors in the dorsolateral striatum on glutamate (Glu) release from the ipsilateral substantia nigra pars reticulata (SNr). Perfusion for 60 min with the NMDA antagonist dizocilpine (0.1 and 1 microM) in the dopamine (DA)-denervated striatum stimulated nigral Glu release (peak effect of 139 +/- 7% and 138 +/- 9%, respectively). The lower (0.01 microM) and higher (10 microM) concentrations were ineffective. In sham-operated rats, dizocilpine failed to affect nigral Glu release up to 1 microM but induced a prolonged stimulation at 10 microM (153 +/- 9% at the end of perfusion). The present results show that DA-deficiency in the striatum of hemiparkinsonian rats is associated with increased responsivity of nigral Glu release to striatal NMDA receptor blockade. This suggests that changes of NMDA receptor mediated control of the striatofugal pathways occur during Parkinson's disease (PD).

Animals↗

Somatostatin release in the hippocampus in the kindling model of epilepsy: a microdialysis study.

Somatostatin biosynthesis in the hippocampus is activated during and following kindling epileptogenesis. The aim of this study was to investigate whether this phenomenon is associated with enhanced somatostatin release in vivo. Experiments have been run in awake, freely moving rats, implanted with a bipolar electrode in the right amygdala (for kindling stimulation), and with a recording electrode and a microdialysis probe in the left hippocampus. Basal somatostatin-like immunoreactivity (-LI) release was significantly greater in kindled than naive rats. In naive rats, a 2-min perfusion with 100 mM K(+) did not affect behavior and EEG recordings and nonsignificantly increased somatostatin-LI release; a 10-min K(+) perfusion evoked numerous wet dog shakes, electrical seizures (class 0; latency congruent with 8 min, duration congruent with 8 min), and somatostatin-LI release ( congruent with 350% of basal); and a single kindling after-discharge (4 +/- 3-s duration in the hippocampus) also evoked somatostatin-LI release ( congruent with 200% of basal). In kindled rats, a 2-min 100 mM K(+) perfusion evoked hippocampal discharges in three of seven animals (latency congruent with 2 min, mean duration congruent with 1.5 min) and increased somatostatin-LI release ( congruent with 250% of basal); a 10-min K(+) perfusion evoked behavioral seizures (class 1 to 5, latency congruent with 4 min, mean duration congruent with 12 min) with numerous wet dog shakes and robust somatostatin-LI release ( congruent with 350% of basal); and a kindling stimulation evoked generalized seizures (class 4 or 5, 77 +/- 15-s duration in the hippocampus) with remarkable somatostatin-LI release ( congruent with 300% of basal). These data demonstrate that hippocampal somatostatin release is increased in the kindling model in vivo.

Amygdala↗

Improving regulation of mean arterial blood pressure during anesthesia through estimates of surgery effects.

In this paper, a scheme for improvement of the regulation of mean arterial blood pressure (MAP) during anesthesia based on model predictive control (MPC) and estimates of the effects of disturbances (surgical events) is proposed. A linear model for the combined effects of surgical stimulations and volatile anesthetics on MAP is derived from experimental data. Based on it the potential improvement in blood pressure regulation is evaluated via a simulation study. The simulation study shows that when information about the effect of the surgical events on MAP is utilized by the controller maximum MAP deviations can be reduced by as much as 50% even when this information is inaccurate. At worst, (highly inaccurate information) no improvement is obtained.

Anesthesia↗

Identification and targeting policies for computer-controlled infusion pumps.

In this article a series of useful techniques is presented to improve the adaptation capabilities of computer-controlled infusion pumps: an identification algorithm for the time constant of the effect compartment, a smoothing technique for estimation based on noisy data, and an infusion policy to target any effect site concentration with no overshoot.

Algorithms↗

In vitro evidence for increased facilitation of striatal acetylcholine release via pre- and postsynaptic NMDA receptors in hemiparkinsonian rats.

The NMDA-evoked acetylcholine release from striatal slices and synaptosomes was investigated in rats subjected to unilateral injection of 6-hydroxydopamine into the substantia nigra. In slices prepared from the striatum contralateral to the lesion, the NMDA-evoked endogenous acetylcholine release was not significant at 10 microM NMDA and maximal at 100 microM NMDA (124 +/- 19%). Conversely, in slices taken from the dopamine-depleted striatum, NMDA was effective even at 10 microM (41 +/- 4%), and at 100 microM (196 +/- 24%) efficacy was nearly doubled. In synaptosomes prepared from the contralateral striatum, NMDA maximally stimulated 20 mM KCl-induced endogenous acetylcholine release at 1 microM (66 +/- 5.1%), with lower concentrations (0.01-0.1 microM) being ineffective. Conversely, in synaptosomes prepared from the dopamine-depleted striatum, NMDA maximally enhanced the K+/--evoked acetylcholine release at 0.1 microM (118 +/- 12.4%). Concentration-response curves of NMDA-evoked acetylcholine release in sham-operated rats could be superimposed on those observed in the contralateral striatum of the 6-hydroxydopamine-lesioned animals. The present data support the view of an increased glutamatergic regulation of striatal acetylcholine release via pre- and postsynaptic NMDA receptors during Parkinson's disease.

Acetylcholine↗

L-glutamate and gamma-aminobutyric acid efflux from rat cerebrocortical synaptosomes: modulation by kappa- and mu- but not delta- and opioid receptor like-1 receptors.

The modulation by delta-, kappa-, mu-, and opioid receptor like-1 (ORL(1)) agonists and antagonists of L-glutamate (L-Glu) and gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) efflux from superfused rat cerebrocortical synaptosomes was studied. Tetrodotoxin (0.5 microM) inhibited the spontaneous efflux of both transmitters by 20%. Ca(2+) omission decreased GABA and facilitated L-Glu efflux. The neurotransmitter overflow evoked by K(+) concentrations in the 7.5- to 10-mM range was largely Ca(2+) dependent and tetrodotoxin sensitive. Neither the delta-receptor agonist deltorphin (up to 0.3 microM) nor the ORL(1) receptor agonist nociceptin (up to 1 microM) significantly affected either spontaneous or K(+)-evoked neurotransmitter efflux. Conversely, the ORL(1) ligand [Phe(1)(CH(2)-NH)Gly(2)]nociceptin(1-13)NH(2) (0.3 microM) caused a naloxone-sensitive inhibition of both L-Glu- and GABA-stimulated overflow. The kappa-receptor agonist (-)-U50,488 failed to modulate spontaneous L-Glu and GABA efflux. However, it similarly inhibited the K(+)-evoked overflow of both neurotransmitters (EC(50) approximately 100 nM; E(max) approximately 25-30% inhibition) in a norbinaltorphimine-sensitive manner. The selective mu-receptor agonist endomorphin 1 inhibited both spontaneous (EC(50) approximately 50 nM) and K(+)-evoked (EC(50) approximately 10 nM; E(max) approximately 50% inhibition) L-Glu efflux in a naloxone-sensitive manner. Conversely, it significantly inhibited only K(+)-evoked GABA efflux (EC(50) approximately 10 nM), although with a lower maximal effect (E(max) approximately 25-30% inhibition). It is concluded that, in the rat cerebral cortex, L-Glu and GABA efflux from nerve terminals is under the direct inhibitory control of kappa- and mu- (but not delta- or ORL(1)) receptors. Because glutamatergic terminals emerged as a preferential target of mu-receptor agonists, the activation of this receptor may advocate both relevant analgesic and neuroprotective effects.

Animals↗

Reciprocal dopamine-glutamate modulation of release in the basal ganglia.

Dopaminergic and glutamatergic transmissions have long been known to interact at multiple levels in the basal ganglia to modulate motor and cognitive functions. One important aspect of their interactions is represented by the reciprocal modulation of release. This topic has been the object of interest since the late 70's, particularly in the striatum and in midbrain dopaminergic areas (substantia nigra and ventral tegmental area). Analysis of glutamate-dopamine interactions in the control of each other's release is complicated by the fact that both glutamate and dopamine act on multiple receptor subtypes which can exert different effects. Therefore, glutamatergic modulation of dopamine release has been reviewed by analyzing the effects of glutamatergic selective receptor agonists and antagonists in the striatum (both motor and limbic portions) and in midbrain dopaminergic areas, as revealed by in vitro (slices, cell cultures, synaptosomes) and in vivo (push-pull, microdialysis and voltammetry techniques) experimental approaches. The same approach has been followed for dopaminergic modulation of glutamate release. The facilitatory nature of glutamate modulating both presynaptic and dendritic dopamine release has clearly emerged from in vitro studies. However, evidence is presented that, at least in the striatum and in the nucleus accumbens of awake rats, glutamate-mediated inhibitory effects may also occur. In vitro and in vivo experiments in the striatum and midbrain dopaminergic areas mainly depict dopamine as an inhibitory modulator of glutamate release. However, in vivo studies reporting dopamine D1 receptor mediated facilitatory effects are also considered. Therefore, the general notion that glutamate and dopamine act oppositely to regulate each other's release, is only partly supported by the available data. Conversely, the nature of the interaction between the two neurotransmitters seems to vary depending on the experimental approach, the brain area considered and the subtype of receptor involved.

Animals↗

Evidence for a striatal NMDA receptor modulation of nigral glutamate release. A dual probe microdialysis study in the awake freely moving rat.

Dual probe microdialysis was employed to characterize dialysate glutamate levels from the substantia nigra pars reticulata of awake freely moving rats, and to test its sensitivity to alterations in striatal neurotransmission including striatal N-methyl-D-aspartic acid (NMDA) receptor stimulation and blockade. Intranigral perfusion with low (0.1 mM) Ca2+ medium (60 min) did not affect nigral glutamate levels, whereas intranigral perfusion with tetrodotoxin (10 microM, 60 min) increased nigral glutamate levels. Perfusion of KCI (100 mM, 10 min) in the dorsolateral striatum transiently stimulated nigral glutamate levels (maximal increase + 60%), whereas intrastriatal perfusion (60 min) with low Ca2+ medium and tetrodotoxin gradually increased nigral glutamate levels. Intrastriatal perfusion with NMDA (0.1-100 microM, 10 min) dose-dependently stimulated glutamate levels in the substantia nigra pars reticulata. The NMDA (1 microM)-induced increase in nigral glutamate release was transient and maximal (+60% within 20 min), whereas that for NMDA (10 microM) had a slow onset but was long lasting (+35% after 60 min). Lower (0.1 microM) and higher (100 microM) NMDA concentrations were ineffective. The effect of intrastriatal NMDA (1 microM) was prevented by coperfusion with MK-801 (1 microM). Intrastriatal MK-801 (10 microM) alone gradually increased glutamate levels up to +50% after 60 min of perfusion. The present results suggest that glutamate levels in the substantia nigra pars reticulata are sensitive to changes in neuronal transmission in the dorsolateral striatum, and that striatal NMDA receptors regulate nigral glutamate release in both a tonic and phasic fashion.

Animals↗

NMDA and non-NMDA ionotropic glutamate receptors modulate striatal acetylcholine release via pre- and postsynaptic mechanisms.

The effects of NMDA and alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methylisoxazole-4-propionic acid (AMPA) on endogenous acetylcholine release from rat striatal slices and synaptosomes were investigated. Both agonists (1-300 microM) facilitated acetylcholine release from slices in a dose-dependent manner. NMDA (100-300 microM) and AMPA (30-300 microM), however, subsequently inhibited acetylcholine release. NMDA (100 microM)-induced facilitation was antagonized by 3-(2-carboxypiperazin-4-yl)propyl-1-phosphonic acid (CPP) and dizocilpine (both 1-10 microM), whereas the 10 microM AMPA effect was antagonized by 6-cyano-7-nitroquinoxaline-2,3-dione (CNQX; 1-30 microM). NMDA (100 microM)-induced inhibition was counteracted by CPP, but not dizocilpine, and by the nitric oxide synthase inhibitor L-nitroarginine (1-100 microM). Tetrodotoxin (0.5 microM) prevented the facilitatory effect of 3 microM NMDA and AMPA, but left unchanged that of 30 microM NMDA and 100 microM AMPA. Acetylcholine release from synaptosomes was stimulated by KCl (7.5-100 mM) in a dose-dependent manner. NMDA and AMPA maximally potentiated the 20 mM KCl effect at 1 microM and 0.01 microM, but were ineffective at 100 microM and 10 microM, respectively. Inhibition of acetylcholine release was never found in synaptosomes. The effects of 1 microM NMDA and 0.01 microM AMPA were antagonized by CPP (0.0001-1 microM) or dizocilpine (0.0001-10 microM) and by CNQX (0.001-1 microM), respectively. These data suggest that glutamatergic control of striatal acetylcholine release is mediated via both pre- and postsynaptic NMDA and non-NMDA ionotropic receptors.

Acetylcholine↗

Functional neuroanatomy of the nigrostriatal and striatonigral pathways as studied with dual probe microdialysis in the awake rat--II. Evidence for striatal N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor regulation of striatonigral GABAergic transmission and motor function.

In the present study we used the dual probe approach to investigate striatal N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor regulation of GABA release from the substantia nigra pars reticulata of the awake, freely moving rat. One microdialysis probe of concentric design was implanted in the dorsolateral striatum and another in the ipsilateral substantia nigra pars reticulata. Perfusion with N-methyl-D-aspartate (100 microM) in the dorsolateral striatum decreased local dopamine release (-25%) and increased both glutamate (+40%) and GABA (+35%) release. Moreover, perfusion with N-methyl-D-aspartate (100 microM) in the dorsolateral striatum increased GABA release (+20%) in the substantia nigra pars reticulata. Perfusion with the lower (10 microM) N-methyl-D-aspartate concentration in the dorsolateral striatum did not affect striatal dopamine, glutamate and GABA release or nigral GABA release. Intrastriatal perfusion with the N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor antagonist dizocilpine maleate (10 microM), at a dose which by itself did not affect basal striatal or nigral neurotransmitter levels, prevented the effects of striatal perfusion with N-methyl-D-aspartate on both striatal and nigral neurotransmitter release. Intrastriatal dizocilpine maleate was also perfused concurrently with intranigral tetrodotoxin (10 microM) (see accompanying paper). Intrastriatal perfusion with dizocilpine maleate prevented the tetrodotoxin-induced rise in both striatal and nigral GABA levels and profoundly reduced the tetrodotoxin-induced contralateral turning. In addition, intrastriatal dizocilpine maleate delayed the increase in striatal glutamate release evoked by intranigral tetrodotoxin without affecting the associated decrease in striatal dopamine release. The present study demonstrates that N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors in the dorsolateral striatum regulate GABA release in the substantia nigra pars reticulata of the awake rat and provides evidence that this regulation plays a key role in motor function.

Animals↗

Functional neuroanatomy of the nigrostriatal and striatonigral pathways as studied with dual probe microdialysis in the awake rat--I. Effects of perfusion with tetrodotoxin and low-calcium medium.

In the present study we employed the dual probe approach to investigate functional interactions between the nigrostriatal dopaminergic and striatonigral GABAergic pathways in the awake, freely moving rat and their role in motor function. One microdialysis probe of concentric design was implanted in the substantia nigra pars reticulata and another in the ipsilateral dorsolateral striatum. Perfusion with a low-Ca2+ (0.1 mM) medium and with the voltage-dependent Na(+)-channel blocker tetrodotoxin (10 microM) was alternatively performed in both brain regions and the dialysate dopamine, glutamate and GABA levels were simultaneously measured in the dorsolateral striatum, whereas GABA levels alone were monitored in the substantia nigra. Perfusion with a low-Ca2+ medium in the substantia nigra pars reticulata did not affect local GABA levels, but transiently increased striatal dopamine release (+40%) without modifying striatal glutamate and GABA levels. Conversely, intranigral perfusion with tetrodotoxin transiently increased local GABA levels (+40%), while it decreased striatal dopamine (-60%) and increased glutamate (+70%) and GABA (+50%) levels. Perfusion with a low-Ca2+ medium in the dorsolateral striatum reversibly decreased local dopamine (-70%), glutamate (-20%) and GABA (-20%) levels, while local perfusion with tetrodotoxin decreased dopamine (-70%), increased glutamate (+30%) but did not affect dialysate GABA levels in this brain area. Neither of these intrastriatal treatments significantly affected GABA levels in the substantia nigra. Intranigral but not intrastriatal perfusion with tetrodotoxin was also associated with an increase in spontaneous locomotor activity as expressed by contralateral turning. Intranigral and intrastriatal perfusion with low-Ca2+ medium did not influence locomotor activity. On the basis of these neurochemical and behavioural findings, we propose a new dynamic model for the study of motor behaviour as mediated by basal ganglia circuitry.

Animals↗

AMPA receptor activation regulates the glutamate metabotropic receptor stimulated phosphatidylinositol turnover in human cerebral cortex slices.

The effect of excitatory amino acids (EAA) on phosphatidylinositol (PI) turnover in human cerebral cortical slices was investigated. Trans-1-aminocyclopentane-1,3-dicarboxylic acid (ACPD) increased inositol phosphate (IP) formation in the 1-1000 microM range. Quisqualic acid (QA) was maximally effective at 10-100 microM, showing an inverse correlation between concentration and effect in the 100-1000 microM range. The glutamate metabotropic receptor antagonist 2-amino-3-phosphonopropionic acid (AP3), the ionotropic non-NMDA receptor antagonist 6-cyano-7-nitroquinoxaline-2,3-dione (CNQX) and the NMDA channel blocker dizolcipine (MK-801) failed to prevent the PI response to ACPD (1000 microM). However, CNQX (100 microM) modified the concentration-response curve of QA reducing the effect of QA 10 microM by approx. 50% and enhancing that of QA 1000 microM by 2-fold. In addition, CNQX (100 microM) together with MK-801 (100 microM) unmasked the ability of L-glutamate (L-GLU) 3000 microM to stimulate PI turnover. The effect of alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid (AMPA) on the EAA-induced PI turnover was also studied. AMPA (0.1-1 microM) potentiated the response to submaximal (30 microM) ACPD and (1 microM) QA concentrations. However, higher AMPA concentrations (10 microM) failed to synergize with ACPD 30 microM and, in addition, inhibited the PI turnover maximally stimulated by QA 10 microM. These results further support the presence of the glutamate metabotropic receptor in the human neocortex. In addition, they show the occurrence of a concentration-related dual interaction between AMPA and glutamate metabotropic receptor activation in the IP formation in this brain area.

6-Cyano-7-nitroquinoxaline-2,3-dione↗

5-Hydroxytryptamine-mediated effects of nicotine on endogenous GABA efflux from guinea-pig cortical slices.

1. The effect of nicotine on endogenous basal GABA outflow was studied in guinea-pig cerebral cortex slices. 2. Nicotine 1.86-18.6 mumol l-1 significantly decreased the basal, tetrodotoxin-sensitive GABA efflux, whereas at higher concentrations (186-620 mumol l-1) nicotine increased it. The inhibition was prevented by mecamylamine while the facilitation was blocked by mecamylamine, (+)-tubocurarine and tetrodotoxin. 3. The effect of nicotine was due to an indirect 5-hydroxytryptaminergic action. In fact, MDL 72222 (1 mumol l-1) completely prevented the alkaloid inhibition and methysergide (1 mumol l-1) reversed the facilitation into inhibition; concomitant treatment with methysergide and MDL 72222 antagonized the effect of nicotine at 186 mumol l-1 4. Lower concentrations of 5-HT (3-10 mumol l-1) decreased, whereas higher concentrations (30-100 mumol l-1) increased, spontaneous GABA outflow. The inhibition of GABA efflux was prevented by MDL 72222 whereas the facilitation was reversed by methysergide (1 mumol l-1) into inhibition, and prevented by MDL 72222 1 mumol l-11. 5. These results suggest that, by activating nicotinic receptors present on 5-hydroxytryptaminergic terminals, nicotine releases 5-HT which, in turn, inhibits or increases the secretory activity of cortical GABA interneurones via 5-HT3 and methysergide-sensitive receptors, respectively.

Animals↗