title: Activation of type 5 metabotropic glutamate receptors enhances NMDA responses in mice cortical wedges.
abstract: 1. We measured the effects of agonists and antagonists of metabotropic glutamate (mGlu) receptors (types 1 and 5) on NMDA-induced depolarization of mouse cortical wedges in order to characterize the mGlu receptor type responsible for modulating NMDA responses. We also characterized a number of mGlu receptor agents by measuring [3H]-inositol phosphate (IP) formation in cortical slices and in BHK cells expressing either mGlu 1 or mGlu 5 receptors. 2. (S)-3,5-dihydroxyphenylglycine (DHPG), an agonist of both mGlu 1 and mGlu 5 receptors, at concentrations ranging from 1-10 microM, enhanced up to 105+/-15% the NMDA-induced depolarization. Larger concentrations (100-300 microM) of the compound were inactive in this test. When evaluated on [3H]-IP synthesis in cortical slices or in cells expressing either mGlu 1 or mGlu 5 receptors, DHPG responses (1-300 microM) increased in a concentration-dependent manner. 3. (RS)-2-chloro-5-hydroxyphenylglycine (CHPG) and (S:)-(+)-2-(3'-carboxybicyclo[1.1.1]pentyl)-glycine (CBPG), had partial agonist activity on mGlu 5 receptors, with maximal effects reaching approximately 50% that of the full agonists. These compounds, however, enhanced NMDA-evoked currents with maximal effects not different from those induced by DHPG. Thus the enhancement of [3H]-IP synthesis and the potentiation of NMDA currents were not directly related. 4. 2-methyl-6-(phenylethynyl)-pyridine (MPEP, 1-10 microM), a selective mGlu 5 receptor antagonist, reduced DHPG effects on NMDA currents. 7-(hydroxyimino)cyclopropan[b]-chromen-1a-carboxylic acid ethylester (CPCCOEt, 30 microM), a preferential mGlu 1 receptor antagonist, did not reduce NMDA currents. 5. These results show that mGlu 5 receptor agonists enhance while mGlu 5 receptor antagonists reduce NMDA currents. Thus the use of mGlu 5 receptor agents may be suggested in a number of pathologies related to altered NMDA receptor function.
authors.affiliation: Department of Preclinical and Clinical Pharmacology, University of Florence Viale Pieraccini 6, Firenze, Italy.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Attucci
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Carlà
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Mannaioni
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Moroni
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D006224:Cricetinae; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D016202:N-Methylaspartate / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018094:Receptors, Metabotropic Glutamate / Q000145:classification / Q000502:physiology*; D016194:Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D018094:Receptors, Metabotropic Glutamate; D016194:Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate; D016202:N-Methylaspartate