title: The neuroprotective agent riluzole inhibits release of glutamate and aspartate from slices of hippocampal area CA1.
abstract: Riluzole is believed to exert its anticonvulsant and neuroprotective actions by reducing glutamate release. This study demonstrated that 10-30 microM riluzole reduces the K(+)-evoked release of glutamate and aspartate from slices of hippocampal area CA1. Only higher concentrations reduced gamma-aminobutyrate (GABA) release. These actions of riluzole were not occluded by tetrodotoxin. Riluzole did not diminish the ability of glutamate analogues to depolarize CA1 pyramidal cells, as determined from grease-gap recordings. Therefore the anticonvulsant and neuroprotective actions of riluzole in the hippocampus may be at least partly explained by its ability to inhibit glutamate/aspartate release from synaptic terminals.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Martin
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Thompson
authors.forename: J V
authors.initials: JV
authors.lastname: Nadler
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001224:Aspartic Acid / Q000378:metabolism*; D018691:Excitatory Amino Acid Antagonists; D005260:Female; D005971:Glutamates / Q000378:metabolism*; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D011188:Potassium / Q000494:pharmacology; D017966:Pyramidal Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D019782:Riluzole; D013844:Thiazoles / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D018691:Excitatory Amino Acid Antagonists; D005971:Glutamates; D013844:Thiazoles; D001224:Aspartic Acid; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid; D019782:Riluzole; D011188:Potassium