title: Neurotensin increases endogenous glutamate release in rat cortical slices.
abstract: In the present study, the effects of the tridecapeptide neurotensin [NT(1-13)] and its fragments, NT(1-7) and NT(8-13), on endogenous glutamate release from rat cortical slices, were evaluated. NT(1-13) (100-1000 nM) slightly increased spontaneous glutamate release, while it was ineffective at 1 and 10 nM concentrations. Neither the biologically active NT fragment NT(8-13) nor the inactive one NT(1-7) affected basal glutamate release. NT(1-13) (1-1000 nM) enhanced potassium (35 mM)-evoked glutamate release displaying a bell-shaped concentration response curve. In addition NT(8-13) (10 nM) increased K+-evoked-glutamate release similarly to the parent peptide (10 nM), while the biologically inactive fragment NT(1-7) (10-100 nM) was ineffective. The effects of NT(1-13) and NT(8-13) were fully counteracted by the selective neurotensin receptor antagonist SR48692 (100 nM). These findings suggest that NT plays a role in regulating cortical glutamate transmission.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Ferrara, Italy.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ferraro
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Tomasini
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Siniscalchi
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Fuxe
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tanganelli
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Antonelli
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D018698:Glutamic Acid / Q000378:metabolism*; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008297:Male; D009496:Neurotensin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011188:Potassium / Q000494:pharmacology; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley
chemical_list: D009496:Neurotensin; D018698:Glutamic Acid; D011188:Potassium