2-3-dioxo-6-nitro-7-sulfamoylbenzo(f)quinoxaline and glutamic-acid-diethyl-ester

Neurotransmitters relaying ascending visceral information were examined by comparing the response of neurons in the insular cortex to vagal stimulation (0.8 Hz, 2 mA) before and after neurotransmitter antagonist injections (200 nl) in the ventroposterior parvocellular nucleus of the thalamus (VPpc). Cobalt (10 mM; presynaptic blocker) and kynurenate (100 microM; nonspecific excitatory amino acid antagonist) injections in the VPpc resulted in an attenuation (73-100 and 38-98%, respectively) of the evoked cortical response. Injections of the specific N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) antagonist DL-2-amino-5-phosphonopentanoic acid (200 microM and 2 mM) did not affect the vagally evoked response, whereas the nonspecific non-NMDA antagonist L-glutamic acid diethylester (200 microM) attenuated the vagally evoked response by 66-100%. Three concentrations of the DL-alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methylisoxazole-propionic acid (AMPA)-specific antagonist 6-cyano-7-nitroquinoxaline-2,3-dione (20 and 200 microM and 2 mM) attenuated the vagally evoked cortical response by 29 +/- 9, 31 +/- 10, and 59 +/- 8%, respectively. The more selective AMPA antagonist 6-nitro-7-sulphamoylbenzo(f)quinoxaline-2,3-dione (200 microM and 2 mM) inhibited the vagally evoked cortical response by 53 +/- 8 and 52 +/- 3%, respectively. Phentolamine (0.1 and 1.0 microM), a general alpha-adrenergic antagonist, and picrotoxin (0.1 and 1.0 microM), a GABA(A) antagonist, did not affect the vagally evoked response. Atropine, a muscarinic cholinergic antagonist, decreased the vagally evoked response by 40 +/- 2% at a concentration of 0.1 microM, but a higher concentration of 1.0 microM had no effect. These results indicate that the non-NMDA excitatory amino acid receptor is necessary for the relay of visceral information in the VPpc. Muscarinic receptors may modulate visceral neuronal excitability in the VPpc, although the exact interaction between the inhibitory (m2) and excitatory (m3 or m5) muscarinic receptor types found in the thalamus is not known.

Topics: 2-Amino-5-phosphonovalerate; 6-Cyano-7-nitroquinoxaline-2,3-dione; Adrenergic alpha-Antagonists; Animals; Atropine; Cerebral Cortex; Cobalt; Electric Stimulation; Excitatory Amino Acid Antagonists; GABA Antagonists; Glutamates; Kynurenic Acid; Male; Muscarinic Antagonists; Neurons; Neurotransmitter Agents; Phentolamine; Picrotoxin; Quinoxalines; Rats; Rats, Wistar; Thalamus; Vagus Nerve; Viscera

Changes of evoked potentials under the influence of NBQX (a non-NMDA receptor antagonist), MK-801 (a NMDA receptor antagonist) and GDEE (a nonselective antagonist of glutamate receptor) were studied. GDEE augmented potentiation and was marked progression of potentiation with increasing number of stimuli. There was no potentiation of responses in relation to the number of stimulus in a series in experiments with both MK-801 and NBQX. Interpretation of results with NBQX and MK-801 is difficult.

Topics: Animals; Dizocilpine Maleate; Evoked Potentials; Excitatory Amino Acid Antagonists; Glutamates; Male; Quinoxalines; Rats; Receptors, AMPA

Seizures were induced in immature 18-day-old rats by i.p. administration of homocysteine (11 mmol/kg) and the effects of selected antagonists of NMDA receptors [MK-801 (0.5 mg/kg), AP7 (0.33 mmol/kg), CGP 40116 (10 mg/kg)] and non-NMDA receptors [GDEE (4 mmol/kg), NBQX (two doses, 30 mg/kg each)] were studied. The effect of MgSO4 (two doses, 2 mmol/kg each) was also tested. The anticonvulsant effect was evaluated not only from the behavioral manifestations of seizures, but also in terms of some indicators of brain energy metabolism. Rat pups were sacrificed during generalized clonic-tonic seizures, corresponding to 16-45 min after homocysteine administration. Comparable time intervals were used for sacrificing the pups which had received the protective drugs. In contrast to neonatal rats, in which only NMDA antagonists could prevent homocysteine-induced seizures, both NMDA and non-NMDA receptor antagonists exerted an anticonvulsant effect in 18-day-old rats. In addition, the pronounced anticonvulsant effect could be achieved by the combined treatment with low subthreshold doses of NMDA (MK-801) and non-NMDA (NBQX) receptor antagonists. The protection was evident not only in suppressing behavioral symptoms of seizures, but also in preventing most of the metabolic changes accompanying seizures, mainly glycogen degradation. More than a sevenfold accumulation of lactate occurring during seizures was markedly reduced by all the tested drugs, but was not completely eliminated. All antagonists, when given alone in the same doses as those used for seizure protection, remained without any effect on lactate levels. Comparison of the present data with previous findings concerning neonatal rats suggests that there may be a developmental change in anticonvulsant efficacy of non-NMDA receptor antagonists against homocysteine-induced seizures in rats.

Topics: 2-Amino-5-phosphonovalerate; Age Factors; Animals; Anticonvulsants; Behavior, Animal; Brain Chemistry; Dizocilpine Maleate; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Energy Metabolism; Excitatory Amino Acid Antagonists; Glutamates; Homocysteine; Male; Neuroprotective Agents; Quinoxalines; Rats; Rats, Wistar; Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate; Seizures

Homocysteine induces seizures in adult, as well as in immature, experimental animals, but the mechanism of its action is still unknown. The aim of the present study was to examine whether homocysteine in immature animals may act via excitatory amino acids receptors. Seizures were induced in 7-day-old rats by ip administration of homocysteine (16.5 mmol/kg) and the effects of selected antagonists at NMDA and non-NMDA receptor sites were investigated. The anticonvulsant effect was evaluated not only in terms of behavioral changes, but also in terms of some indicators of brain energy metabolism. Rat pups were sacrificed during generalized clonic-tonic seizures, corresponding approximately to 15-30 min after homocysteine administration. Comparable time intervals were used for sacrificing pups in the groups with protective drugs. Non-NMDA antagonists, L-glutamic acid diethylester (GDEE) (4 mmol/kg, ip) and 2,3-dihydroxy-6-nitro-7-sulfamoyl-benzo (F) quinoxaline (NBQX) (two doses, 30 mg/kg each, ip), failed to protect neonatal rats against homocysteine-induced seizures. Although NBQX prevented the tonic phase, the severity of clonic movements was even more pronounced. Metabolic changes accompanying the seizures (decreases of glucose and glycogen and a rise of lactate) were also not influenced by GDEE or NBQX pretreatment. On the contrary, NMDA antagonists, both competitive (AP7, 0.33 mmol/kg, ip) and noncompetitive (MK-801, 0.5 mg/kg, ip), had a clear-cut anticonvulsant effect. They not only suppressed the behavioral signs of seizures, but also prevented most of the metabolic changes accompanying seizures.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Topics: 2-Amino-5-phosphonovalerate; Amino Acids; Animals; Animals, Newborn; Anticonvulsants; Dizocilpine Maleate; Glutamates; Homocysteine; Male; Neuroprotective Agents; Quinoxalines; Rats; Rats, Wistar; Receptors, Amino Acid; Receptors, AMPA; Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate; Seizures