• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.23-26
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• 2009

During operations, neurosurgeons usually perform multiple temporary occlusions of parental artery, possibly resulting in the neuronal damage. It is generally thought that neuronal damage by cerebral ischemia is associated with extracellular concentrations of the excitatory amino acids. In this study, we measured the dynamics of extracellular glutamate release in 11 vessel occlusion(VO) model to compare between single occlusion and repeated transient occlusions within short interval. Changes in cerebral blood flow were monitored by laser-Doppler flowmetry simultaneously with cortical glutamate level measured by amperometric biosensor. From real time monitoring of glutamate release in 11 VO model, the change of extracellular glutamate level in repeated transient occlusion group was smaller than that of single occlusion group, and the onset time of glutamate release in the second ischemic episode of repeated occlusion group was delayed compared to the first ischemic episode which was similar to that of single 10 min ischemic episode. These results suggested that repeated transient occlusion induces less glutamate release from neuronal cell than single occlusion, and the delayed onset time of glutamate release is attributed to endogeneous protective mechanism of ischemic tolerance.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.49 no.1
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• pp.1-7
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• 2011

Objective: Glutamate is a key excitatory neurotransmitter in the brain, and its excessive release plays a key role in the development of neuronal injury. In order to define the effect of nimodipine on glutamate release, we monitored extracellular glutamate release in real-time in a global ischemia rat model with eleven vessel occlusion. Methods: Twelve rats were randomly divided into two groups: the ischemia group and the nimodipine treatment group. The changes of extracellular glutamate level were measured using microdialysis amperometric biosensor, in coincident with cerebral blood flow (CBF) and electroencephalogram. Nimodipine (0.025 ${\mu}g$/100 gm/min) was infused into lateral to the CBF probe, during the ischemic period. Also, we performed Nissl staining method to assess the neuroprotective effect of nimodipine. Results: During the ischemic period, the mean maximum change in glutamate concentration was $133.22{\pm}2.57\;{\mu}M$ in the ischemia group and $75.42{\pm}4.22\;{\mu}M$ (p<0.001) in the group treated with nimodipine. The total amount of glutamate released was significantly different (P<0.001) between groups during the ischemic period. The %cell viability in hippocampus was $47.50{\pm}5.64$ (p<0.005) in ischemia group, compared with sham group. But, the %cell viability in nimodipine treatment group was $95.46{\pm}6.60$ in hippocampus (p<0.005). Conclusion: From the real-time monitoring and Nissl staining results, we suggest that the nimodipine treatment is responsible for the protection of the neuronal cell death through the suppression of extracellular glutamate release in the 11-VO global ischemia model of rat.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.48-54
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• 1999

These studies were designed to examine the differential effect of nitric oxide (NO) and cGMP on glutamate neurotransmission. In primary cultures of rat cerebellar granule cells, the glutamate receptor agonist N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) stimulates the elevation of intracellular calcium concentration ($[Ca^{2+}]_i$), the release of glutamate, the synthesis of NO and an increase of cGMP. Although NO has been shown to stimulate guanylyl cyclase, it is unclear yet whether NO alters the NMDA-induced glutamate release and ${[Ca^{2+}]}_i$ elevation. We showed that the NO synthase inhibitor, NG-monomethyl-L-arginine (NMMA), partially prevented the NMDA-induced release of glutamate and elevation of ${[Ca^{2+}]}_i$ and completely blocked the elevation of cGMP. These effects of NO on glutamate release and [Ca2+]i elevation were unlikely to be secondary to cGMP as the cGMP analogue, dibutyryl cGMP (dBcGMP), did not suppress the effects of NMDA. Rather, dBcGMP slightly augmented the NMDA-induced elevation of ${[Ca^{2+}]}_i$ with no change in the basal level of glutamate or ${[Ca^{2+}]}_i$. The extracellular NO scavenger hydroxocobalamine prevented the NMDA-induced release of glutamate providing indirect evidence that the effect of NO may act on the NMDA receptor. These results suggest that low concentration of NO has a role in maintaining the NMDA receptor activation in a cGMP-independent manner.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.132-136
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• 1996

Exogenously applied oxygen free radical generating agent, pyrogallol, highly elevated extracellular glutamate accumulation and augmented N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA)-induced glutamate accumulation in cerebellar granule neuronal cells, but did not in astrocytes. Superoxide dismutase remarkably decreased the pyrogallol-induced glutamate accumulation, but either NMDA or kainate antagonists did not. In addition, pyrogallol did not affect the NMDAinduced intracellular calcium elevation. Pyrogallol partially blocked glutamate uptake into astrocytes. These results suggest that oxygen free radicals elevate extracellular glutamate accumulation by stimulating the release of glutamate as well as blocking the glutamate uptake.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.153-158
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• 1995

The levels of extracellualr glutamate, intracellular $Ca^{2+}\;([Ca2+]_i)$ and cGMP were determined for 1 h with the excitatory amino acids, N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) or kainate in cultured cerebellar granule cells. Both NMDA and kainate produced a time-dependent release of glutamate, and kainate was more potent than NMDA in glutamate elevation. The elevation of extracellular glutamate was not purely governed by intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ concentration. However, in opposite to the time-dependent elevation of glutamate, the elevation of cGMP by NMDA and kainate were at maximum level in short-time (1 min) incubation then remarkably decreased with longer incubation times. Post-applications (30 min after agonist) of EAA antagonist did not block EAAs-induced glutamate elevation. However, NMDA antagonist, phencyclidine (PCP), blocked NMDA-induced cGMP elevation at pre- or post-application, but kainate antagonist, 6,7-dinitroquinoxaline-2,3-dione (DNQX), paradoxically augmented kainate-induced cGMP elevation for 1 h incubation. These results show that NMDA or kainate induces time-dependent elevations of extracellular glutamate, while the elevations of cGMP by these EAAs are remarkably decreased with longer incubation times. However, NMDA- arid kainate-indcued glutamate release was blocked by pre-application of each receptor antagonist but not by post-application while EAA-induced $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ was blocked by post-application of antagonist. These observations suggest that EAA-induced elevation of $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ is not parallel with elevation of glutamate release or cGMP.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.18 no.6
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• pp.391-395
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• 1995

Several lines of evidence indicate that physiological activity of N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor was blocked by physiological concentration of $Mg^{2+}$ (1.2 mM). However, the activity of NMDA receptor may not be blocked totally with this concentration of $Mg^{2+}$ under elevated membrane potential by kainate. Here, we described the effect of $Mg^{2+}$ on NMDA receptor and how much of NMDA receptor functions could be activated by kainate. Effects of NMDA receptor antagonist on kainate-induced elevation of intracellualr $Ca^{2+}$ levels $([Ca^{2+}]_i)$ and extracellular glutamate level were examined in cultured rat cerebellar granule neurons. kainate-induced elevation of $([Ca^{2+}]_i)$ was not affected by physiological concentration of $Mg^{2+}$. Kainate-induced NMDA-induced elevation was blocked by the same concentration of $MG^{2+}$Kainate-induced elevation of [$([Ca^{2+}]_i)$ was decreased by 32% in the presence of NMDA antagonists, MK-801 and CPP (3-[2-carboxypiperazine-4-yl]propyl-1-phosphonic acid), in $Mg^{2+}$ free buffer. Kainate receptor-activated gluamate release was also decreased (30%) by MK-801 or CPP. These resuts show that certain extent of elevations of intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ and extracellular glutamate by kainate is due to coativation of NMDA receptors.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.29 no.6
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• pp.630-636
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• 2021

Eupafolin, a constituent of the aerial parts of Phyla nodiflora, has neuroprotective property. Because reducing the synaptic release of glutamate is crucial to achieving pharmacotherapeutic effects of neuroprotectants, we investigated the effect of eupafolin on glutamate release in rat cerebrocortical synaptosomes and explored the possible mechanism. We discovered that eupafolin depressed 4-aminopyridine (4-AP)-induced glutamate release, and this phenomenon was prevented in the absence of extracellular calcium. Eupafolin inhibition of glutamate release from synaptic vesicles was confirmed through measurement of the release of the fluorescent dye FM 1-43. Eupafolin decreased 4-AP-induced [Ca²⁺]_i elevation and had no effect on synaptosomal membrane potential. The inhibition of P/Q-type Ca²⁺ channels reduced the decrease in glutamate release that was caused by eupafolin, and docking data revealed that eupafolin interacted with P/Q-type Ca²⁺ channels. Additionally, the inhibition of calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaMKII) prevented the effect of eupafolin on evoked glutamate release. Eupafolin also reduced the 4-AP-induced activation of CaMK II and the subsequent phosphorylation of synapsin I, which is the main presynaptic target of CaMKII. Therefore, eupafolin suppresses P/Q-type Ca²⁺ channels and thereby inhibits CaMKII/synapsin I pathways and the release of glutamate from rat cerebrocortical synaptosomes.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.23 no.5
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• pp.488-494
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• 2000

Cerebellar granule and glial cells prepared from 7 day-old rat pups were used to investigate the effects of sub-acute nicotine exposure on the glutamatergic nervous system. These cells were exposed to nicotine in various concentrations for 2 to 10 days in situ. Nicotine-exposure did not result in any changes in cerebellar granule and glial cell viability at concentrations of up to 500 $\mu\textrm{M}$. In cerebellar granule cells, the basal extracellular levels of glutamate, aspartate and glycine were enhanced in the nicotine-exposed granule cells. In addition, the responses of N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA)-induced glutamate release were enhanced at low NMDA concentrations in the nicotine-exposed granule cells. However, this decreased at higher NMDA concentrations. The glutaminase activity was increased after nicotine exposure. In cerebellar glial cells, glutamate uptake in the nicotine-exposed glial cells were either increased at low nicotine exposure levels or decreased at higher levels. The inhibition of glutamate uptake by L-trans-pyrollidine-2,4-dicarboxylic acid (PDC) was lower in glial cells exposed to 50 $\mu\textrm{M}$ nicotine. Glutamine synthetase activity was lower in glial cells exposed to 100 or 500 $\mu\textrm{M}$ of nicotine. These results indicate that the properties of cerebellar granule and glial cells may alter after subacute nicotine exposure. Furthermore, they suggest that nicotine exposure during development may modulate glutamatergic nervous activity.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.159-165
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• 2015

Input signals originating from baroreceptors and vestibular receptors are integrated in the rostral ventrolateral medulla (RVLM) to maintain blood pressure during postural movement. The contribution of baroreceptors and vestibular receptors in the maintenance of blood pressure following hypotension were quantitatively analyzed by measuring phosphorylated extracellular regulated protein kinase (pERK) expression and glutamate release in the RVLM. The expression of pERK and glutamate release in the RVLM were measured in conscious rats that had undergone bilateral labyrinthectomy (BL) and/or sinoaortic denervation (SAD) following hypotension induced by a sodium nitroprusside (SNP) infusion. The expression of pERK was significantly increased in the RVLM in the control group following SNP infusion, and expression peaked 10 min after SNP infusion. The number of pERK positive neurons increased following SNP infusion in BL, SAD, and BL+SAD groups, although the increase was smaller than seen in the control group. The SAD group showed a relatively higher reduction in pERK expression when compared with the BL group. The level of glutamate release was significantly increased in the RVLM in control, BL, SAD groups following SNP infusion, and this peaked 10 min after SNP infusion. The SAD group showed a relatively higher reduction in glutamate release when compared with the BL group. These results suggest that the baroreceptors are more powerful in pERK expression and glutamate release in the RVLM following hypotension than the vestibular receptors, but the vestibular receptors still have an important role in the RVLM.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.28 no.5
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• pp.413-422
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• 2024

Group I metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGluRs) modulate postsynaptic neuronal excitability and epileptogenesis. We investigated roles of group I mGluRs on low extracellular Mg²⁺ concentration ([Mg²⁺]_o)-induced epileptiform activity and neuronal cell death in the CA1 regions of isolated rat hippocampal slices without the entorhinal cortex using extracellular recording and propidium iodide staining. Exposure to Mg²⁺-free artificial cerebrospinal fluid can induce interictal epileptiform activity in the CA1 regions of rat hippocampal slices. MPEP, a mGluR 5 antagonist, significantly inhibited the spike firing of the low [Mg²⁺]_o-induced epileptiform activity, whereas LY367385, a mGluR1 antagonist, did not. DHPG, a group 1 mGluR agonist, significantly increased the spike firing of the epileptiform activity. U73122, a PLC inhibitor, inhibited the spike firing. Thapsigargin, an ER Ca²⁺-ATPase antagonist, significantly inhibited the spike firing and amplitude of the epileptiform activity. Both the IP₃ receptor antagonist 2-APB and the ryanodine receptor antagonist dantrolene significantly inhibited the spike firing. The PKC inhibitors such as chelerythrine and GF109203X, significantly increased the spike firing. Flufenamic acid, a relatively specific TRPC 1, 4, 5 channel antagonist, significantly inhibited the spike firing, whereas SKF96365, a relatively non-specific TRPC channel antagonist, did not. MPEP significantly decreased low [Mg²⁺]_o DMEM-induced neuronal cell death in the CA1 regions, but LY367385 did not. We suggest that mGluR 5 is involved in low [Mg²⁺]_o-induced interictal epileptiform activity in the CA1 regions of rat hippocampal slices through PLC, release of Ca²⁺ from intracellular stores and PKC and TRPC channels, which could be involved in neuronal cell death.