Selective antagonism of nigral neuropeptide responses to methamphetamine by conantokin G, a naturally occurring conopeptide.
Some conopeptides derived from cone snails act on specific subunits of the NMDA receptor and thus, exert an influence on the dopamine system. In this study, one such conopeptide, conantokin G, was administered i.c.v. in conjunction with methamphetamine, a potent central nervous system stimulant known to cause dopamine release and changes in tissue levels of neurotensin and dynorphin A in some brain structures. Both single and multiple administrations of the conantokin G preferentially attenuated the methamphetamine-induced increases in tissue levels of these neuropeptides in the substantia nigra. Conantokin G also enhanced the behavioral effects of the methamphetamine.
Bush
L
L
Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Room 201, 30 S and 2000 E, Skaggs Hall, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA.
McCabe
T
T
Hanson
G R
GR
D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects; D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D020916:Conotoxins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004357:Drug Synergism; D004399:Dynorphins / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D018691:Excitatory Amino Acid Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007276:Injections, Intraventricular; D008297:Male; D008694:Methamphetamine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009479:Neuropeptides / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D009496:Neurotensin / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013378:Substantia Nigra / Q000737:chemistry / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism
D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants; D020916:Conotoxins; D018691:Excitatory Amino Acid Antagonists; D009479:Neuropeptides; D009496:Neurotensin; D008694:Methamphetamine; D004399:Dynorphins; C055407:conotoxin GV