Microinjection of a glutamate antagonist into the nucleus accumbens reduces psychostimulant locomotion in rats.
In order to study a possible modulatory effect of glutamatergic afferents to the nucleus accumbens (NAC) on psychostimulant-induced locomotion, L-glutamic acid diethyl ester (GDEE), a glutamate antagonist, was injected in the NAC of rats acutely treated with cocaine, amphetamine or caffeine. GDEE at the doses of 5, 10, and 20 micrograms/side significantly reduced locomotion induced by cocaine (20 mg/kg, i.p.). Amphetamine-induced hyperactivity was also reduced by GDEE, whereas caffeine-induced hyperactivity was not significantly decreased by GDEE. This suggests that glutamatergic afferents to the NAC modulate the effects of psychostimulants and also dopamine function in the mesolimbic system.
Pulvirenti
L
L
Division of Preclinical Neuroscience and Endocrinology, Research Institute of Scripps Clinic, La Jolla, CA 92037.
Swerdlow
N R
NR
Koob
G F
GF
D000661:Amphetamine / Q000494:pharmacology; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D002110:Caffeine / Q000494:pharmacology; D003042:Cocaine / Q000494:pharmacology; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D018691:Excitatory Amino Acid Antagonists; D005971:Glutamates / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006948:Hyperkinesis / Q000187:drug effects*; D008297:Male; D008845:Microinjections; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000187:drug effects*; D009714:Nucleus Accumbens / Q000187:drug effects*; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D012686:Septal Nuclei / Q000187:drug effects*
D018691:Excitatory Amino Acid Antagonists; D005971:Glutamates; C011829:glutamic acid diethyl ester; D002110:Caffeine; D000661:Amphetamine; D003042:Cocaine