21st century excitatory amino acid research: A Q & A with Jeff Watkins and Dick Evans.

In 1981 Jeff Watkins and Dick Evans wrote what was to become a seminal review on excitatory amino acids (EAAs) and their receptors (Watkins and Evans, 1981). Bringing together various lines of evidence dating back over several decades on: the distribution in the nervous system of putative amino acid neurotransmitters; enzymes involved in their production and metabolism; the uptake and release of amino acids; binding of EAAs to membranes; the pharmacological action of endogenous excitatory amino acids and their synthetic analogues, and notably the actions of antagonists for the excitations caused by both nerve stimulation and exogenous agonists, often using pharmacological tools developed by Jeff and his colleagues, they provided a compelling account for EAAs, especially l-glutamate, as a bona fide neurotransmitter in the nervous system. The rest, as they say, is history, but far from being consigned to history, EAA research is in rude health well into the 21st Century as this series of Special Issues of Neuropharmacology exemplifies. With EAAs and their receptors flourishing across a wide range of disciplines and clinical conditions, we enter into a dialogue with two of the most prominent and influential figures in the early days of EAA research: Jeff Watkins and Dick Evans.

Direct auditory cortical input to the lateral periaqueductal gray controls sound-driven defensive behavior.

Threatening sounds can elicit a series of defensive behavioral reactions in animals for survival, but the underlying neural substrates are not fully understood. Here, we demonstrate a previously unexplored neural pathway in mice that projects directly from the auditory cortex (ACx) to the lateral periaqueductal gray (lPAG) and controls noise-evoked defensive behaviors. Electrophysiological recordings showed that the lPAG could be excited by a loud noise that induced an escape-like behavior. Trans-synaptic viral tracing showed that a great number of glutamatergic neurons, rather than GABAergic neurons, in the lPAG were directly innervated by those in layer V of the ACx. Activation of this pathway by optogenetic manipulations produced a behavior in mice that mimicked the noise-evoked escape, whereas inhibition of the pathway reduced this behavior. Therefore, our newly identified descending pathway is a novel neural substrate for noise-evoked escape and is involved in controlling the threat-related behavior.

Age-related changes in cerebellar and hypothalamic function accompany non-microglial immune gene expression, altered synapse organization, and excitatory amino acid neurotransmission deficits.

We describe age-related molecular and neuronal changes that disrupt mobility or energy balance based on brain region and genetic background. Compared to young mice, aged C57BL/6 mice exhibit marked locomotor (but not energy balance) impairments. In contrast, aged BALB mice exhibit marked energy balance (but not locomotor) impairments. Age-related changes in cerebellar or hypothalamic gene expression accompany these phenotypes. Aging evokes upregulation of immune pattern recognition receptors and cell adhesion molecules. However, these changes do not localize to microglia, the major CNS immunocyte. Consistent with a neuronal role, there is a marked age-related increase in excitatory synapses over the cerebellum and hypothalamus. Functional imaging of these regions is consistent with age-related synaptic impairments. These studies suggest that aging reactivates a developmental program employed during embryogenesis where immune molecules guide synapse formation and pruning. Renewed activity in this program may disrupt excitatory neurotransmission, causing significant behavioral deficits.

Glutamate Release.

Our aim was to review the processes of glutamate release from both biochemical and neurophysiological points of view. A large body of evidence now indicates that glutamate is specifically accumulated into synaptic vesicles, which provides strong support for the concept that glutamate is released from synaptic vesicles and is the major excitatory neurotransmitter. Evidence suggests the notion that synaptic vesicles, in order to sustain the neurotransmitter pool of glutamate, are endowed with an efficient mechanism for vesicular filling of glutamate. Glutamate-loaded vesicles undergo removal of Synapsin I by CaM kinase II-mediated phosphorylation, transforming to the release-ready pool. Vesicle docking to and fusion with the presynaptic plasma membrane are thought to be mediated by the SNARE complex. The Ca(2+)-dependent step in exocytosis is proposed to be mediated by synaptotagmin.

Fluoxetine (prozac) and serotonin act on excitatory synaptic transmission to suppress single layer 2/3 pyramidal neuron-triggered cell assemblies in the human prefrontal cortex.

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors are the most widely prescribed drugs targeting the CNS with acute and chronic effects in cognitive, emotional and behavioral processes. This suggests that microcircuits of the human cerebral cortex are powerfully modulated by selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, however, direct measurements of serotonergic regulation on human synaptic interactions are missing. Using multiple whole-cell patch-clamp recordings from neurons in acute cortical slices derived from nonpathological human samples of the prefrontal cortex, we show that neuronal assemblies triggered by single action potentials of individual neurons in the human cortex are suppressed by therapeutic doses of fluoxetine (Prozac). This effect is boosted and can be mimicked by physiological concentrations of serotonin through 5HT-2A and 5HT-1A receptors. Monosynaptic excitatory connections from pyramidal cells to interneurons were suppressed by application of serotonin leaving the monosynaptic output of GABAergic cells unaffected. Changes in failure rate, in paired-pulse ratio, and in the coefficient of variation of the amplitude of EPSPs suggest a presynaptic action of serotonin. In conclusion, activation of neuronal assemblies, which were suggested as building blocks of high order cognitive processes, are effectively downregulated by the acute action of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors or serotonin at the site of pyramidal output in human microcircuits.

Elucidation of pathophysiology and treatment of neuropathic pain.

Neuropathic pain, pain arising as a direct consequence of a lesion or disease affecting the somatosensory system, is relatively common, occurring in about 1% of the population. Studies in animal models describe a number of peripheral and central pathophysiological processes after nerve injury that would be the basis of underlying neuropathic pain mechanism. Additionally, neuro-imaging (positron emission tomography and functional magnetic resonance imaging) provides insights in brain mechanisms corresponding with mechanistic processes including allodynia, hyperalgesia, altered sensation, and spontaneous pain. A change in function, chemistry, and structures of neurons (neural plasticity) underlie the production of the altered sensitivity characteristics of neuropathic pain. Peripheral processes in neuropathic pain involve production of mediators (cytokines, protons, nerve growth factor), alterations in calcium channels, sodium channels, hyperpolarisation-activated nucleotide-gated ion channels, and potassium channels, phenotypic switches and sprouting of nerves endings, and involvement of the sympathetic nervous system. Stimulation of the N-Methyl-D-Aspartate receptor, activation of microglia, oligodendrocytes, and astrocytes, increased production of nerve growth factor and brain-derived neurotrophic factor together with loss of spinal inhibitory control are responsible for central neuron hyperexcitability and maintenance of neuropathic pain. Recent advances, including functional imaging techniques, in identification of peripheral and central sensitization mechanisms related to nervous system injury have increased potential for affecting pain research from both diagnostic as well as therapeutic view. Key brain regions involved in generating pharmacologically induced analgesia may be identified. Despite the progress in pain research, neuropathic pain is challenge to manage. Although numerous treatment options are available for relieving neuropathic pain, there is no consensus on the most appropriate treatment. However, recommendations can be proposed for first-line, second-line, and third-line pharmacological treatments based on the level of evidence for the different treatment strategies. Available therapies shown to be effective in managing neuropathic pain include opioids and tramadol, anticonvulsants, antidepressants, topical treatments (lidocaine patch, capsaicin), and ketamine. Tricyclic antidepressants are often the first drugs selected to alleviate neuropathic pain (first-line pharmacological treatment). Although they are very effective in reducing pain in several neuropathic pain disorders, treatment may be compromised (and outweighed) by their side effects. In patients with a history of cardiovascular disorders, glaucoma, and urine retention, pregabalin and gabapentine are emerging as first-line treatment for neuropathic pain. In addition these anti-epileptic drugs have a favourable safety profile with minimal concerns regarding drug interactions and showing no interference with hepatic enzymes. Alternatively, opioids (oxycodone and methadone) and tramadol may alleviate nociceptive and neuropathic pain. Despite the numerous treatment options available for relieving neuropathic pain, no more than half of patients experience clinically meaningful pain relief, which is almost always partial but not complete relief. In addition, patients frequently experience burdensome adverse effects and as a consequence are often unable to tolerate the treatment. In the remaining patients, combination therapies using two or more analgesics with different mechanisms of action may also offer adequate pain relief. Although combination treatment is clinical practice and may result in greater pain relief, trials regarding different combinations of analgesics (which combination to use, occurrence of additive or supra-additive effects, sequential or concurrent treatment, adverse-event profiles of these analgesics, alone and in combination) are scarce. If medical treatments have failed, invasive therapies such as intrathecal drug administration and neurosurgical stimulation techniques (spinal cord stimulation, deep brain stimulation, and motor cortex stimulation) may be considered.

In vitro mechanical strain trauma alters neuronal calcium responses: Implications for posttraumatic epilepsy.

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is known to initiate a series of chemical cascades resulting in neuronal dysfunction and death. Epidemiology studies have found that a prior incidence of TBI is the most important cause of remote symptomatic epilepsy in young adults and children. TBI-induced changes in neuronal sensitivity to stimulation may contribute to acute seizures and the eventual generation of epilepsy. This study examined TBI-induced changes in neuronal sensitivity to stimulation by measuring intracellular calcium ([Ca(++) ](i) ) responses in neurons during glutamate application in vitro. Initial experiments examined neuronal and glial cell death and determined that a 31% mechanical strain trauma to mixed neuronal-astrocyte rat cortical cultures produced a trend, but no significant cell death at 48 h after injury. Subsequent experiments utilized this magnitude of trauma to examine the sensitivity of cortical neurons to changes in [Ca(++) ](i) in response to 100-µm glutamate at five time points postinjury (1, 6, 24, 48, and 72 h). Traumatically strain-injured neurons responded with a dynamic change in the accumulation of [Ca(++) ](i) , with a significant increase at 48 h and a significant decrease at 72 h as compared to uninjured cultures. These data highlight that TBI leads to abnormal responsiveness to stimulation, an indicator of neuronal dysfunction in surviving cells. Such changes in sensitivity to stimulation may also be associated with changes in excitability in the first hours to days after TBI, and may play a role in early posttraumatic seizures observed in patients with TBI. In addition, this study provides an in vitro paradigm for testing the function of surviving cells following treatment interventions targeted at reducing cell death and dysfunction.

Casos de videoelectroencefalograma: diagnóstico diferencial en el recién nacido / Cases of video electroencephalogram: differential diagnosis in newborn infants

Resumen. Se exponen las consideraciones generales sobre las epilepsias y síndromes epilépticos que se desarrollan en el período neonatal, marcando los límites cronológicos de esta etapa madurativa y analizando sucintamente la fisiopatología del fenómeno convulsivo durante él, remarcando las diferencias existentes con otras edades y obviamente con el adulto, como consecuencia del incipiente nivel madurativo del sistema nervioso central del recién nacido. Asimismo, se hace referencia a los valores porcentuales de esta patología, que varía incluso en dependencia de la edad gestacional. La expresividad clínica tiene una personalidad muy diferenciada respecto al resto de las etapas madurativas del niño, aceptándose cuatro manifestaciones predominantes: las crisis sutiles, tónicas, clónicas y mioclónicas, aceptadas universalmente desde que fueron descritas por Volpe. Las epilepsias del recién nacido no se encuentran suficientemente diferenciadas en las diferentes clasificaciones de las epilepsias y síndromes epilépticos aparecidas a lo largo de los últimos años, aunque tienen el suficiente significado e individualidad como para que así fuera. Se presentan tres casos clínicos, con soporte videoelectroencefalográfico, para ilustrar algunas de las posibles manifestaciones epilépticas neonatales (AU)

Summary. This study addresses a number of general considerations on epilepsies and epileptic syndromes that develop in the neonatal period. The chronological limits of this stage of maturation are set out and the pathophysiology of the convulsive phenomenon during that period are briefly analysed. Furthermore, the differences that exist as a result of the incipient level of maturity of the newborn infant’s central nervous system with regard to other ages, and obviously adults, are highlighted. Likewise, reference is made to the percentage values of this pathology, which even vary depending on the gestational age. The clinical expression has a personality that is very different from the other stages of maturation in children, with four predominant manifestations: subtle, tonic, clonic and myoclonic seizures, which have been universally accepted since they were first reported by Volpe. Epilepsies in the newborn infant are not sufficiently well differentiated in the different classifications of epilepsies and epileptic syndromes that have appeared in recent years, although they could well be, since they display enough significance and individuality for that to be so. Three clinical cases are reported, with the aid of video electroencephalographic findings, to illustrate some of the possible neonatal epileptic manifestations (AU)

Glutamatergic changes in the cerebral white matter associated with schizophrenic exacerbation.

OBJECTIVE: Glutamatergic dysfunction in the brain has been implicated in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia. This study was aimed to examine several brain chemical mediators, including Glx (glutamate + glutamine), using (1)H magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) in medicated patients with schizophrenia, with and without psychotic exacerbation. METHOD: (1)H MRS was acquired in 24 patients with schizophrenia, with psychotic exacerbation; 22 patients without exacerbation; and 27 age- and sex-matched healthy volunteers. The levels of metabolites were measured in the left frontal and inferior parietal white matter and compared across the three groups. RESULTS: The Glx level was significantly elevated in the left inferior parietal white matter in the patients with psychotic exacerbation in comparison with that in the healthy volunteers and the patients without exacerbation (P < 0.05). We also detected that there was a significant correlation between Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale-positive scale and Glx level in the left parietal white matter (r = 0.51, P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Higher than normal Glx levels indicate glutamatergic overactivity in the left inferior parietal white matter with schizophrenic exacerbation, a finding that is in accordance with the glutamatergic hypothesis in schizophrenia. The Glx level measured by (1)H MRS could be a biomarker for exacerbation in schizophrenia.

Management of acute postoperative pain after oral surgery.

This article provides a brief review of the acute pain mechanism as it relates to the effects of a surgical insult. A brief understanding of the physiologic modulation of acute pain establishes a rational framework for the concept of preemptive and postoperative analgesia. A brief review of commonly used analgesic agents is presented. Research in pain management and new drug development is ongoing as new concepts in neurophysiology and pharmacology are being elucidated.

Joining distributed pattern processing and homeostatic plasticity in recurrent on-center off-surround shunting networks: noise, saturation, short-term memory, synaptic scaling, and BDNF.

The activities of neurons vary within small intervals that are bounded both above and below, yet the inputs to these neurons may vary many-fold. How do networks of neurons process distributed input patterns effectively under these conditions? If a large number of input sources intermittently converge on a cell through time, then a serious design problem arises: if cell activities are sensitive to large inputs, then why do not small inputs get lost in internal system noise? If cell activities are sensitive to small inputs, then why do they not all saturate at their maximum values in response to large inputs and thereby become incapable of processing analog differences in inputs across an entire network? Grossberg (1973) solved this noise-saturation dilemma using neurons that obey the membrane, or shunting, equations of neurophysiology interacting in recurrent and non-recurrent on-center off-surround networks, and showed how different signal functions can influence the activity patterns that the network stores in short-term memory. These results demonstrated that maintaining a balance between excitation and inhibition in a neural network is essential to process distributed patterns of inputs and signals without experiencing the catastrophies of noise or saturation. However, shunting on-center off-surround networks only guarantee that cell activities remain sensitive to the relative sizes of inputs and recurrent signals, but not that they will use the full dynamic range that each cell can support. Additional homeostatic plasticity mechanisms are needed to anchor the activities of networks to exploit their full dynamic range. This article shows how mechanisms of synaptic scaling can be incorporated within recurrent on-center off-surround networks in such a way that their pattern processing capabilities, including the ability to make winner-take-all decisions, is preserved. This model generalizes the synaptic scaling model of van Rossum, Bi, & Turrigiano (2000) for a single cell to a pattern-processing network of shunting cells that is capable of short-term memory storage, including a representation of how BDNF may homeostatically scale the strengths of excitatory and inhibitory synapses in opposite directions.

Implications for treatment: GABAA receptors in aging, Down syndrome and Alzheimer's disease.

In addition to progressive dementia, Alzheimer's disease (AD) is characterized by increased incidence of seizure activity. Although originally discounted as a secondary process occurring as a result of neurodegeneration, more recent data suggest that alterations in excitatory-inhibitory (E/I) balance occur in AD and may be a primary mechanism contributing AD cognitive decline. In this study, we discuss relevant research and reports on the GABA(A) receptor in developmental disorders, such as Down syndrome, in healthy aging, and highlight documented aberrations in the GABAergic system in AD. Stressing the importance of understanding the subunit composition of individual GABA(A) receptors, investigations demonstrate alterations of particular GABA(A) receptor subunits in AD, but overall sparing of the GABAergic system. In this study, we review experimental data on the GABAergic system in the pathobiology of AD and discuss relevant therapeutic implications. When developing AD therapeutics that modulate GABA it is important to consider how E/I balance impacts AD pathogenesis and the relationship between seizure activity and cognitive decline.

Genetic factors modulating outcome after neurotrauma.

Wide variation in outcomes after neurotrauma, despite apparently similar injury severity, suggests that host factors may influence the recovery process. Genetically determined individual differences might be one such factor. The study of the genetic modulation of outcome after neurotrauma is at an early stage. Nevertheless, several important components of the response to neurotrauma can be identified in which genetic differences contribute to variability in outcome. These components include genetic modulators of pre- and postinjury cognitive reserve and behavioral homeostasis, and processes that modulate cytotoxic injury cascades (extent of injury) and injury repair. This work reviews what is known of the role of genetic variation in outcome after neurotrauma with a focus on clinical outcomes after traumatic brain injury. Polymorphisms reported to influence outcome after traumatic brain injury that illustrate important underlying mechanisms are emphasized.

Further evidence for an involvement of nociceptin/orphanin FQ in the pathophysiology of Parkinson's disease: a behavioral and neurochemical study in reserpinized mice.

The contribution of nociceptin/orphanin FQ (N/OFQ) to reserpine-induced Parkinsonism was evaluated in mice. A battery of motor tests revealed that reserpine caused dose-dependent and long-lasting motor impairment. Endogenous N/OFQ sustained this response because N/OFQ peptide (NOP) receptor knockout (NOP(-/-) ) mice were less susceptible to the hypokinetic action of reserpine than wild-type (NOP(+/+) ) animals. Microdialysis revealed that reserpine elevated glutamate and reduced GABA levels in substantia nigra reticulata, and that resistance to reserpine in NOP(-/-) mice was accompanied by a milder increase in glutamate and lack of inhibition of GABA levels. To substantiate this genetic evidence, the NOP receptor antagonist 1-[(3R,4R)-1-cyclooctylmethyl-3-hydroxymethyl-4-piperidyl]-3-ethyl-1,3-dihydro-2H benzimidazol-2-one (J-113397) simultaneously reduced akinesia and nigral glutamate levels in reserpinized NOP(+/+) mice, being ineffective in NOP(-/-) mice. Moreover, repeated J-113397 administration in reserpinized mice resulted in faster recovery of baseline motor performance which was, however, accompanied by a loss of acute antiakinetic response. The short-term beneficial effect of J-113397 was paralleled by normalization of nigral glutamate levels, whereas loss of acute response was paralleled by loss of the ability of J-113397 to inhibit glutamate levels. We conclude that endogenous N/OFQ contributes to reserpine-induced Parkinsonism, and that sustained NOP receptor blockade produces short-term motor improvement accompanied by normalization of nigral glutamate release.

Glutamate excitotoxicity mediates neuronal apoptosis after hypothermic circulatory arrest.

BACKGROUND: Prolonged hypothermic circulatory arrest results in neuronal cell death and neurologic injury. We have previously shown that hypothermic circulatory arrest causes both neuronal apoptosis and necrosis in a canine model. Inhibition of neuronal nitric oxide synthase reduced neuronal apoptosis, while glutamate receptor antagonism reduced necrosis in our model. This study was undertaken to determine whether glutamate receptor antagonism reduces nitric oxide formation and neuronal apoptosis after hypothermic circulatory arrest. METHODS: Sixteen hound dogs underwent 2 hours of circulatory arrest at 18 degrees C and were sacrificed after 8 hours. Group 1 (n = 8) was treated with MK-801, 0.75 mg/kg intravenously prior to arrest followed by 75 microg/kg/hour infusion. Group 2 dogs (n = 8) received vehicle only. Intracerebral levels of excitatory amino acids and citrulline, an equal coproduct of nitric oxide, were measured. Apoptosis, identified by hematoxylin and eosin staining and confirmed by electron microscopy, was blindly scored from 0 (normal) to 100 (severe injury), while nick-end labeling demonstrated DNA fragmentation. RESULTS: Dogs in groups 1 and 2 had similar intracerebral levels of glutamate. However, MK-801 significantly reduced intracerebral glycine and citrulline levels compared with hypothermic circulatory arrest controls. The MK-801 significantly inhibited apoptosis (7.92 +/- 7.85 vs 62.08 +/- 6.28, group 1 vs group 2, p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Our results showed that glutamate receptor antagonism significantly reduced nitric oxide formation and neuronal apoptosis. We provide evidence that glutamate excitotoxicity mediates neuronal apoptosis in addition to necrosis after hypothermic circulatory arrest. Clinical glutamate receptor antagonists may have therapeutic benefits in ameliorating both types of neurologic injury after hypothermic circulatory arrest.

Update of cell damage mechanisms in thiamine deficiency: focus on oxidative stress, excitotoxicity and inflammation.

Thiamine deficiency (TD) is a well-established model of Wernicke's encephalopathy. Although the neurologic dysfunction and brain damage resulting from the biochemical consequences of TD is well characterized, the mechanism(s) that lead to the selective histological lesions characteristic of this disorder remain a mystery. Over the course of many years, various structural and functional changes have been identified that could lead to cell death in this disorder. However, despite a concerted effort to explain the consequences of TD in terms of these changes, our understanding of the pathophysiology of this disorder remains unclear. This review will focus on three of these processes, i.e. oxidative stress, glutamate-mediated excitotoxicity and inflammation and their role in selective vulnerability in TD. Since TD inhibits oxidative metabolism, a feature of many neurodegenerative disease states, it represents a model system with which to explore pathological mechanisms inherent in such maladies, with the potential to yield new insights into their possible treatment and prevention.

From pain to movement: a tribute to professor Barry J. Sessle.

This tribute article to Professor Barry J. Sessle summarizes the 6 presentations delivered at the July 1, 2008 symposium at the University of Toronto. The symposium honored 3 "giants" in orofacial neuroscience, Professors B. J. Sessle, J. P. Lund, and A. G. Hannam. The 6 presentations paying tribute to Sessle spanned the period from the early phase of his career up to some of his most recent studies with colleagues in Asia, Europe, and Australia as well as Canada. The studies have included those providing an improved understanding of the cortical control of sensory inputs in pain perception (presented by R. Dubner) and in the control of mastication and swallowing, as well as brainstem mechanisms of orofacial pain (K. Iwata, G. Murray). His current activities in his laboratory and in Denmark are also highlighted (L. Avivi-Arber, P. Svensson). The potential transfer of basic research discoveries toward drug development in pain control that stem from some of his research is also described (B. Cairns). The final section of the paper includes a commentary from Professor Sessle.

Evidence for the involvement of glutamatergic and GABAergic systems and protein kinase A pathway in the antinociceptive effect caused by p-methoxy-diphenyl diselenide in mice.

The present study investigated the antinociceptive effect of p-methoxy-diphenyl diselenide (MeOPhSe)(2), a simple organochalcogenide, in chemical and thermal behavioural models of nociception in mice, without accompanying changes in ambulation when assessed in an open field. This compound given by oral route (p.o.) produced antinociception when assessed on acetic acid-induced visceral nociception, with mean ID(50) value of 9.64 (3.28-28.35) mg/kg. In addition, the per oral administration of (MeOPhSe)(2) exhibited significant inhibition of the neurogenic nociception induced by intraplantar (i.pl.) injection of capsaicin, with mean ID(50) value of 16.29 (11.43-23.22) mg/kg. (MeOPhSe)(2) showed an antinociceptive effect when measured by the tail-immersion and hot-plate tests. Likewise, compound inhibited both neurogenic and inflammatory phases of the overt nociception caused by i.pl injection of formalin, with mean ID(50) values of 22.32 (17.84-27.92) and 19.65 (13.67-28.24) mg/kg, respectively. (MeOPhSe)(2) reduced the nociception produced by i.pl. injection of glutamate and 8-bromo-cAMP (8-Br-cAMP, a protein kinase A [PKA] activator), with mean ID(50) values of 11.05 (7.12-17.15) and 8.72 (5.42-14.02) mg/kg, respectively. (MeOPhSe)(2) also reduced formalin-, glutamate-, induced paw oedema formation. A marked inhibition of the biting behaviour induced by intrathecal (i.t.) injection of glutamate, alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid (AMPA) and (+/-)-1 aminocyclopentane-trans-1,3-dicarboxylic acid (trans-ACPD) was caused by (MeOPhSe)(2). However, (MeOPhSe)(2) completely failed to affect the nociception induced by i.t. injection of N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA; 450 pmol/site) and kainate (110 pmol /site). The antinociceptive effect caused by (MeOPhSe)(2) was blocked by picrotoxin (a chloride ion channel blocker) and bicucculine (a specific GABA(A) receptor antagonist) but not by phaclofen (a specific GABA(B) receptor antagonist) in the hot-plate test. Together, these results indicate that (MeOPhSe)(2) produces antinociception in several models of nociception through mechanisms that involve an interaction with glutamatergic and GABAergic systems, as well as the inhibition of protein kinase A pathway.