TY - JOUR
T1 - Evidence for a selective prefrontal cortical GABAB receptor-mediated inhibition of glutamate release in the ventral tegmental area: A dual probe microdialysis study in the awake rat
T2 - A dual probe microdialysis study in the awake rat
AU - O'Connor, William T
AU - Harte, M.
PY - 2005
Y1 - 2005
N2 - Glutamate-containing pyramidal neurons in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPfc) project to the ventral tegmental area (VTA) where they synapse on mesocorticolimbic dopamine containing cell bodies and GABA interneurons. In the present study we employed dual probe microdialysis in intact conscious rat brain to investigate the effects of intra-mPfc perfusion with a depolarising concentration of potassium chloride (KCl) (100 mM, 20 min) alone and in the presence of local GABA A and GABA B receptor blockade on VTA glutamate release. Intra-mPfc KCl transiently increased VTA glutamate release (+71.48±14.29%, 20 min). Intra-mPfc perfusion with a concentration of the GABA A receptor antagonist bicuculline (10 μM, 120 min) did not influence the intra-mPfc KCl-induced increase in VTA glutamate release (+102.35±33.61%, 20 min). In contrast, intra-mPfc perfusion with a concentration of the GABA B receptor antagonist CGP35348 (100 μM, 120 min) which when given alone did not influence basal glutamate levels in the VTA was associated with an enhanced KCl-induced stimulation of VTA glutamate release (+375.19±89.69%, 40 min). Furthermore, this enhancement was reversed in the presence of the selective GABA B receptor agonist baclofen (10 μM, 120 min). The present findings suggest a key role for the prefrontal cortex in the regulation of glutamate release in the VTA. Furthermore, we demonstrate a selective cortical GABA B receptor-mediated inhibition of glutamate transmission in the VTA. These findings may be important in the context of abnormalities in amino acid neurotransmission at the network level in schizophrenia.
AB - Glutamate-containing pyramidal neurons in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPfc) project to the ventral tegmental area (VTA) where they synapse on mesocorticolimbic dopamine containing cell bodies and GABA interneurons. In the present study we employed dual probe microdialysis in intact conscious rat brain to investigate the effects of intra-mPfc perfusion with a depolarising concentration of potassium chloride (KCl) (100 mM, 20 min) alone and in the presence of local GABA A and GABA B receptor blockade on VTA glutamate release. Intra-mPfc KCl transiently increased VTA glutamate release (+71.48±14.29%, 20 min). Intra-mPfc perfusion with a concentration of the GABA A receptor antagonist bicuculline (10 μM, 120 min) did not influence the intra-mPfc KCl-induced increase in VTA glutamate release (+102.35±33.61%, 20 min). In contrast, intra-mPfc perfusion with a concentration of the GABA B receptor antagonist CGP35348 (100 μM, 120 min) which when given alone did not influence basal glutamate levels in the VTA was associated with an enhanced KCl-induced stimulation of VTA glutamate release (+375.19±89.69%, 40 min). Furthermore, this enhancement was reversed in the presence of the selective GABA B receptor agonist baclofen (10 μM, 120 min). The present findings suggest a key role for the prefrontal cortex in the regulation of glutamate release in the VTA. Furthermore, we demonstrate a selective cortical GABA B receptor-mediated inhibition of glutamate transmission in the VTA. These findings may be important in the context of abnormalities in amino acid neurotransmission at the network level in schizophrenia.
KW - baclofen
KW - interneuron
KW - pyramidal projection neuron
KW - schizophrenia
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=9244249199&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2004.08.045
DO - 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2004.08.045
M3 - Article
C2 - 15561437
AN - SCOPUS:9244249199
SN - 0306-4522
VL - 130
SP - 215
EP - 222
JO - Neuroscience
JF - Neuroscience
IS - 1
ER -