title: A kainate receptor linked to nitric oxide synthesis from arginine.
abstract: In slices of young rat cerebellum, the glutamate analogue kainate induced a large accumulation of cyclic GMP, which was inhibited by non-N-methyl-D-aspartate antagonists. Quisqualate and alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionate evoked only small cyclic GMP responses and inhibited the effect of kainate. When tested in cerebellar cell suspensions, glutamate was also a potent antagonist of the cyclic GMP response to kainate. Superoxide dismutase enhanced the response in the isolated cells, whereas haemoglobin and methylene blue were inhibitory. The response in slices was Ca2+ dependent, augmented by arginine, and inhibited by L-NG-monomethylarginine in a manner that could be reversed by additional arginine. It is concluded that stimulation of kainate receptors leads to activation of the enzyme that synthesizes nitric oxide from arginine and that activation of soluble guanylate cyclase by the released nitric oxide accounts for the cyclic GMP generation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, University of Liverpool, England.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Garthwaite
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Southam
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Anderton
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001120:Arginine / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology; D002531:Cerebellum / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D006152:Cyclic GMP / Q000378:metabolism; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007608:Kainic Acid / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007700:Kinetics; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D018092:Kainic Acid Receptors; D017981:Receptors, Neurotransmitter / Q000378:metabolism*; D019323:omega-N-Methylarginine
chemical_list: D001120:Arginine; D006152:Cyclic GMP; D007608:Kainic Acid; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D018092:Kainic Acid Receptors; D017981:Receptors, Neurotransmitter; D019323:omega-N-Methylarginine