title: The modulation of cortical acetylcholine release by GABA, GABA-like drugs and benzodiazepines in freely moving guinea-pigs.
abstract: In order to define the modulatory role played by gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) in corticopetal cholinergic projections, the effect of this amino acid and related drugs on gross behaviour, the EEG and the release of acetylcholine (ACh) from the cerebral cortex in freely moving guinea-pigs was studied. gamma Aminobutyric acid, injected intracerebroventricularly (20-50 mumol) induced a three-phase picture: first (5-15 min) behavioural activation and increased release of ACh, then (30-90 min) depression, EEG synchronization and reduced release of ACh, and finally "rebound" stimulation. Ethanolamine-O-sulphate (EOS) injected intraventricularly (28 mumol/kg) or intraperitoneally (14 mmol/kg) reproduced the first two phases of the effects of GABA (i.e. stimulation followed by inhibition), while diazepam (0.7 and 3.5 mumol/kg, i.p.) and flurazepam (32 mumol/kg, i.p.) caused, at first, only depression. Muscimol and 4,5,6,7-tetrahydroisoxazolo(4,5-c)pyridine-3-ol (THIP) injected intraventricularly (in the nmol range) or intraperitoneally (in the mumol range) produced behavioural activation and increased release of ACh; the depressant signs appeared only after very large, toxic doses. Picrotoxin and bicuculline, at sub-convulsive doses, reduced the symptomatology caused by GABA and antagonized the sedation produced by diazepam. Methysergide (8-16 mumol/kg, i.p.) prevented the behavioural activation and the increased release of ACh by GABA, unmasked the depression due to subthreshold doses of diazepam (i.c.v., 7-70 nmol) and reversed the stimulation induced by muscimol into sedation and reduced the outflow of ACh. Pretreatment with 5,7-HT also dampened and shortened the stimulation by muscimol.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tanganelli
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bianchi
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Beani
mesh_terms: D000109:Acetylcholine / Q000378:metabolism*; D000613:Aminobutyrates / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001569:Benzodiazepines; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D004983:Ethanolamines / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D007555:Isoxazoles / Q000494:pharmacology; D008297:Male; D009118:Muscimol / Q000494:pharmacology; D012702:Serotonin Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D000613:Aminobutyrates; D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents; D004983:Ethanolamines; D007555:Isoxazoles; D012702:Serotonin Antagonists; D001569:Benzodiazepines; D009118:Muscimol; C005959:2,4-diaminobutyric acid; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid; C020619:ethanolamine O-sulfate; C015542:gaboxadol; D000109:Acetylcholine