Anxiolytic properties of 1-aminocyclopropanecarboxylic acid, a ligand at strychnine-insensitive glycine receptors.
The effects of 1-aminocyclopropanecarboxylic acid were investigated on performance in an elevated plus-maze. This compound is a high-affinity, partial agonist ligand at strychnine-insensitive glycine receptors of the N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor complex. Like chlordiazepoxide, 1-aminocyclopropanecarboxylic acid increased in a dose-dependent manner both the percent entries into and the percent time spent in the open arms of the plus-maze. However, 1-aminocyclopropanecarboxylic acid was significantly less efficacious than chlordiazepoxide in these measures and increased, while chlordiazepoxide decreased, the time spent in the middle platform of the plus-maze. These findings indicate that ligands acting through strychnine-insensitive glycine receptors on the N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor complex may represent a new class of anxiolytic agents with a profile which differs from the benzodiazepines.
Trullas
R
R
Laboratory of Neuroscience, NIDDK, Bethesda, MD 20892.
Jackson
B
B
Skolnick
P
P
D000596:Amino Acids / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000598:Amino Acids, Cyclic; D000818:Animals; D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003220:Conflict, Psychological; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D018009:Receptors, Glycine; D017981:Receptors, Neurotransmitter / Q000378:metabolism*; D013331:Strychnine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013647:Task Performance and Analysis
D000596:Amino Acids; D000598:Amino Acids, Cyclic; D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents; D018009:Receptors, Glycine; D017981:Receptors, Neurotransmitter; C023863:1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid; D013331:Strychnine