title: Activation of metabotropic glutamate receptors by L-AP4 stimulates survival of rat cerebellar granule cells in culture.
abstract: The results presented here show that the metabotropic glutamate receptor agonist L(+)-2-amino-4-phosphonobutyric acid (L-AP4) is capable of markedly stimulating the survival of rat cerebellar granule cells in culture. This is the first demonstration of a neurotrophic role for metabotropic glutamate receptors. The survival promoting action of L-AP4 does not involve a large, rapid rise in [Ca2+]i which is seen with other neurotrophic agents in granule cells such as N-methyl-D-aspartate, ionomycin and high potassium. In addition, the survival-promoting effect of L-AP4 did not appear to be related to changes in cAMP levels. Survival due to L-AP4 was enhanced by pertussis toxin and by forskolin and was unaffected by inhibitors of cAMP-dependent protein kinase. Measurement of cAMP levels after long-term treatment with neurotrophic agents showed no clear relationship between cAMP concentration and granule cell survival. The mechanism of L-AP4 stimulated cell survival is unknown but seems unlikely to involve an acute rise in [Ca2+]i or modulation of cAMP levels. Survival induced by L-AP4 was not blocked by the antagonist (RS)-alpha-methyl-4-carboxyphenylglycine. Similarity in these properties with those of the mGLu7 receptor suggests that granule cell survival was stimulated by an mGlu7-like metabotropic receptor.
authors.affiliation: Physiological Laboratory, University of Liverpool, UK.
authors.forename: M E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Graham
authors.forename: R D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Burgoyne
mesh_terms: D000613:Aminobutyrates / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002531:Cerebellum / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects*; D005576:Colforsin / Q000494:pharmacology; D000242:Cyclic AMP / Q000378:metabolism; D017868:Cyclic AMP-Dependent Protein Kinases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D008858:Microscopy, Phase-Contrast; D037342:Pertussis Toxin; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D018094:Receptors, Metabotropic Glutamate / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D010566:Virulence Factors, Bordetella / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D000613:Aminobutyrates; D018094:Receptors, Metabotropic Glutamate; D010566:Virulence Factors, Bordetella; D005576:Colforsin; D000242:Cyclic AMP; D037342:Pertussis Toxin; D017868:Cyclic AMP-Dependent Protein Kinases; C012729:2-amino-4-phosphonobutyric acid; D002118:Calcium