title: Endogenous glutamate levels regulate nerve growth factor mRNA expression in the rat dentate gyrus.
abstract: The levels of nerve growth factor (NGF) mRNA can be regulated in vitro and in vivo in the hippocampal formation by events associated with pharmacological activation of glutamate receptors. In the present study, the level of NGF mRNA in the hippocampal formation was examined following an intrahippocampal injection of 1 nmole fluorocitrate, which temporarily inhibits the astrocyte metabolic activity in vivo. Consistent with previous findings, fluorocitrate treatment significantly increased glutamate levels and decreased glutamine levels in the dentate gyrus as determined by in vivo microdialysis. The increased ratio of glutamate to glutamine was followed by a significant increase in NGF mRNA expression selectively in dentate gyrus granule cells. The effects of increasing glutamate levels were blocked by pretreatment with 50 nmole 2-amino-5-phosphonovalerate (AP5), a competitive antagonist that acts at the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) glutamate receptor subtype. These findings suggest that NGF mRNA expression is regulated, in part, by changes in endogenous glutamate levels, partially through enhanced excitatory neurotransmission through NMDA receptors.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Ajou University School of Medicine, Suwon, Korea.
authors.forename: B J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Gwag
authors.forename: F M
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Sessler
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Robine
authors.forename: J E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Springer
mesh_terms: D015763:2-Amino-5-phosphonovalerate / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D001253:Astrocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D002951:Citrates / Q000494:pharmacology; D018891:Dentate Gyrus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D018698:Glutamic Acid / Q000378:metabolism*; D005973:Glutamine / Q000378:metabolism; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D017551:Microdialysis; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors / Q000235:genetics*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D016194:Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism; D009435:Synaptic Transmission
chemical_list: D002951:Citrates; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D016194:Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate; D005973:Glutamine; C007744:fluorocitrate; D018698:Glutamic Acid; D015763:2-Amino-5-phosphonovalerate