title: Mechanism of inhibition of N-methyl-D-aspartate-stimulated increases in free intracellular Ca2+ concentration by ethanol.
abstract: Dissociated brain cells were isolated from newborn rat pups and loaded with fura-2. These cells were sensitive to low N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) concentrations with EC50 values for NMDA-induced intracellular Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i) increases of approximately 7-16 microM measured in the absence of Mg2+. NMDA-stimulated [Ca2+]i increases could be observed in buffer with Mg2+ when the cells were predepolarized with 15 mM KCl prior to NMDA addition. Under these predepolarized conditions, 100 mM ethanol inhibited 25 microM NMDA responses by approximately 50%, which was similar to the ethanol inhibition observed in buffer without added Mg2+. Ethanol did not alter [Ca2+]i prior to NMDA addition. In the absence of Mg2+, 50 and 100 mM ethanol did not significantly alter the EC50 value for NMDA, but did inhibit NMDA-induced increases in [Ca2+]i in a concentration-dependent manner at 4, 16, 64, and 256 microM NMDA. Whereas NMDA-induced increases in [Ca2+]i were dependent on extracellular Ca2+ and were inhibited by Mg2+, the ability of 100 mM ethanol to inhibit 25 microM NMDA responses was independent of the external Ca2+ or Mg2+ concentrations. Glycine (1, 10, and 100 microM) enhanced 25 microM NMDA-induced increases in [Ca2+]i by approximately 50%. Glycine (1-100 microM) prevented the 100 mM ethanol inhibition of NMDA-stimulated [Ca2+]i observed in the absence of exogenous glycine. MK-801 (25-400 nM) inhibited 25 microM NMDA-stimulated rises in [Ca2+]i in a concentration-dependent manner.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
authors.affiliation: Division of Pharmacology, College of Pharmacy, University of Texas, Austin 78712.
authors.forename: J E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Dildy-Mayfield
authors.forename: S W
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Leslie
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism*; D016291:Dizocilpine Maleate / Q000494:pharmacology; D000431:Ethanol / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005998:Glycine / Q000494:pharmacology; D007425:Intracellular Membranes / Q000378:metabolism*; D007473:Ion Channels / Q000187:drug effects; D016202:N-Methylaspartate / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009474:Neurons / Q000378:metabolism*; D009994:Osmolar Concentration; D010622:Phencyclidine / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D007473:Ion Channels; D000431:Ethanol; D016202:N-Methylaspartate; D016291:Dizocilpine Maleate; D010622:Phencyclidine; D002118:Calcium; D005998:Glycine