Argon blocks the expression of locomotor sensitization to amphetamine through antagonism at the vesicular monoamine transporter-2 and mu-opioid receptor in the nucleus accumbens.

We investigated the effects of the noble gas argon on the expression of locomotor sensitization to amphetamine and amphetamine-induced changes in dopamine release and mu-opioid neurotransmission in the nucleus accumbens. We found (1) argon blocked the increase in carrier-mediated dopamine release induced by amphetamine in brain slices, but, in contrast, potentiated the decrease in KCl-evoked dopamine release induced by amphetamine, thereby suggesting that argon inhibited the vesicular monoamine transporter-2; (2) argon blocked the expression of locomotor and mu-opioid neurotransmission sensitization induced by repeated amphetamine administration in a short-term model of sensitization in rats; (3) argon decreased the maximal number of binding sites and increased the dissociation constant of mu-receptors in membrane preparations, thereby indicating that argon is a mu-receptor antagonist; (4) argon blocked the expression of locomotor sensitization and context-dependent locomotor activity induced by repeated administration of amphetamine in a long-term model of sensitization. Taken together, these data indicate that argon could be of potential interest for treating drug addiction and dependence.

Prothrombolytic action of normobaric oxygen given alone or in combination with recombinant tissue-plasminogen activator in a rat model of thromboembolic stroke.

The potential benefit of 100 vol% normobaric oxygen (NBO) for the treatment of acute ischemic stroke patients is still a matter of debate. To advance this critical question, we studied the effects of intraischemic normobaric oxygen alone or in combination with recombinant tissue-plasminogen activator (rtPA) on cerebral blood flow and ischemic brain damage and swelling in a clinically relevant rat model of thromboembolic stroke. We show that NBO provides neuroprotection by achieving cerebral blood flow restoration equivalent to 0.9 mg/kg rtPA through probable direct interaction and facilitation of the fibrinolytic properties of endogenous tPA. In contrast, combined NBO and rtPA has no neuroprotective effect on ischemic brain damage despite producing cerebral blood flow restoration. These results 1) by providing a new mechanism of action of NBO highlight together with previous findings the way by which intraischemic NBO shows beneficial action; 2) suggest that NBO could be an efficient primary care therapeutic intervention for patients eligible for rtPA therapy; 3) indicate that NBO could be an interesting alternative for patients not eligible for rtPA therapy; and 4) caution the use of NBO in combination with rtPA in acute stroke patients.

Blockade of the locomotor stimulant effects of amphetamine by group I, group II, and group III metabotropic glutamate receptor ligands in the rat nucleus accumbens: possible interactions with dopamine receptors.

Previous investigations have shown that mGlu receptors would be involved in the amphetamine-induced motor response. However, data are somewhat controversial across studies where methodological protocols vary. The aim of the present study was to determine the involvement of mGlu receptors in the NAcc in the locomotor-activating properties of amphetamine in rats well habituated to their experimental environment, a condition known to modulate the motor response to amphetamine. Focal infusion of the group I mGlu receptor antagonist S-4-CPG, which has no effect on basal motor activity, virtually suppressed the locomotor response to amphetamine, while infusion of the group II mGlu receptor antagonist LY 341495 or the group III mGlu receptor agonist AP4, at the minimal dose that produces locomotor activation, reduced it by approximately a half. These effects were blocked by the group I mGlu receptor agonist DHPG, the group II mGlu receptor agonist APDC, and the group III mGlu receptor antagonist MPPG, respectively. These data confirm that mGlu receptors in the NAcc contribute to the psychostimulant motor effect of amphetamine. Results are discussed from the view of recent neuropharmacological studies that have defined the effects of these mGlu receptor ligands on basal motor activity and DA receptor agonists-induced locomotor responses in rats exposed to similar experimental procedures (Eur J Neuroscience 13 (2001) 2157; Neuropharmacology 41 (2001) 454; Eur J Neuroscience 13 (2001) 869). It is suggested that the contribution of mGlu receptors to the amphetamine-induced motor response may result mainly from their functional, either direct or indirect, interactions with D1-like receptors in the NAcc.

Nitrogen at raised pressure interacts with the GABA(A) receptor to produce its narcotic pharmacological effect in the rat.

BACKGROUND: Strong evidence supports the concept that conventional anesthetics, including inhalational agents and inert gases, such as xenon and nitrous oxide, interact directly with ion channel neurotransmitter receptors. However, there is no evidence that nitrogen, which only exhibits narcotic potency at increased pressure, may act by a similar mechanism. METHODS: We compared the inhibitory and sedative effects of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and nitrogen pressure on locomotor activity and striatal dopamine release in freely moving rats and investigated the pharmacologic properties of the GABA-induced and nitrogen pressure-induced narcotic action using the highly selective competitive GABA(A) receptor antagonist bicuculine. RESULTS: Intracerebroventricular GABA infusion up to 60 micromol or exposure to nitrogen pressure up to 3 MPa decreased to a similar extent striatal dopamine release (r2= 0.899, df = 4, P < 0.01) and locomotor activity (r2 = 0.996, df = 28, P < 0.001). However, both agents only showed small effects on striatal dopamine release, reducing dopamine currents by only 12-13% at sedative concentrations. Pretreatment with bicuculline at 0.5, 1, and 2.5 pmol reduced the sedative action of GABA on locomotor activity by 10, 20, and 41%, respectively. Bicuculline in the nanomole range at 1, 2.5, and 5 nmol but not in the picomole range reduced the sedative action of nitrogen pressure by 5, 37, and 73%, respectively. Schild plot analysis is consistent with the fact that bicuculline is a competitive antagonist of both GABA and nitrogen at pressure. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest (1) that the presynaptic effects of both GABA and nitrogen pressure on striatal dopamine transmission are modest and not mainly involved in their sedative action and (2) that nitrogen at increased pressure may interact directly with the GABA(A) receptor. However, because the antagonistic effect of bicuculline on nitrogen sedation only occurred at much higher bicuculline concentrations than seen with GABA, it is suggested that nitrogen does not compete for the same site as GABA.

Differential modulation of the D1-like- and D2-like dopamine receptor-induced locomotor responses by group II metabotropic glutamate receptors in the rat nucleus accumbens.

There is strong evidence for the existence of functional interactions between metabotropic glutamate receptors and dopamine transmission in the nucleus accumbens. In the present study, we investigated the interactions between group II mGlu receptors and D1-like- and D2-like receptors in the rat nucleus accumbens. Administration of the selective group II metabotropic glutamate receptor agonist APDC, which had no effect when injected alone, potentiated the locomotor response produced by the selective D1-like receptor agonist SKF 38393 but had no effect on those induced by the selective D2-like receptor agonist quinpirole (also known as LY 171555)--a compound believed to act only at D2-like presynaptic receptors when injected alone--or co-administration of SKF 38393+quinpirole--a pharmacological condition thought to stimulate both D1-like receptors and presynaptic and postsynaptic D2-like receptors. In contrast, the selective group II mGlu receptor antagonist LY 341495, which induced an increase in basal locomotor activity, showed no effect on the SKF 38393-induced locomotor response, but abolished that produced by quinpirole or SKF 38393+quinpirole. The present findings demonstrate that stimulation of group II mGlu receptors has a cooperative and potentiating action on the locomotor response induced by D1-like receptor activation, whereas blockade of group II mGlu receptors has an antagonist action on the locomotor responses induced by activation of D2-like receptors. Although these data are consistent from a pharmacological point of view, as the effects of the group II mGlu receptor antagonist LY 341495 were blocked by the group II mGlu receptor agonist APDC and conversely, the subtle neurochemical crosstalks underlying such a differential effect of group II mGlu receptors on D1-like- and D2-like DA receptors remain to be elucidated.

Inhibition of the glutamate transporter by L-trans-PDC in the nucleus accumbens prevents the locomotor response to amphetamine.

Infusion in the nucleus accumbens of the glutamate uptake inhibitor L-trans-PDC prevented the amphetamine-induced locomotor response. Since L-trans-PDC has been shown to block the amphetamine-induced increase in glutamate but not in DA release, our result indicates that the glutamate transporter is an obligatory target for the activating properties of amphetamine.

The group I metabotropic glutamate receptor antagonist S-4-CPG modulates the locomotor response produced by the activation of D1-like, but not D2-like, dopamine receptors in the rat nucleus accumbens.

Functional interactions between dopamine (DA) and glutamate neurotransmissions in both the dorsal and the ventral striatum have been described for long time. However, there is much controversy as to whether glutamate transmission stimulates or attenuates DA release and locomotor activity. We investigated the functional interactions on locomotor activity between group I metabotropic glutamatergic receptors (mGlu receptors) and both D1-like and D2-like DA receptors in the rat nucleus accumbens. Intra-accumbens administration of the selective group I mGlu receptor antagonist S-4-CPG (0.2 or 2 microg per side), which had no effect when injected alone, prevented the increase in locomotor activity produced by the selective D1-like receptor agonist SKF 38393 (1 microg per side). Co-administration with S-4-CPG of the group I mGlu receptor agonist DHPG, but not of the group II mGlu receptor agonist APDC or the group III mGlu receptor agonist AP4, reversed the antagonistic effect of S-4-CPG on the SKF 38393-induced increase in locomotor activity. This indicates that the antagonistic effect of S-4-CPG could result from an action at the group I mGlu receptors. In contrast, administration of S-4-CPG showed no effect on the locomotor responses produced by either the selective D2-like receptor agonist LY 171555 (1 microg per side) or a mixed solution of SKF 38393 + LY 171555 (1 microg per side each). Altogether, these results confirm that glutamate transmission may control locomotor function through mGlu receptors in a DA-dependent manner, and further indicate that group I mGlu receptors would interact with D1-like receptors, but not D2-like receptors, to modulate DA transmission and locomotor activity.