Endogenous adenosine exerts inhibitory effects upon the development of spreading depression and glutamate release induced by microdialysis with high K+ in rat hippocampus

Spreading depression (SD) is a slowly propagating neuronal depolarization that underlies certain neurologic conditions. The wave-like pattern of its propagation suggests that SD arises from an unusual form of neuronal communication. We used enzyme-based glutamate electrodes to show that during SD induced by transiently raising extracellular K+ concentrations ([K+]o) in rat brain slices, there was a rapid increase in the extracellular glutamate concentration that required vesicular exocytosis but unlike fast synaptic transmission, still occurred when voltage-gated sodium and calcium channels (VGSC and VGCC) were blocked. Instead, presynaptic N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors (NMDARs) were activated during SD and could generate substantial glutamate release to support regenerative glutamate release and propagating waves when VGSCs and VGCCs were blocked. In calcium-free solutions, high [K+]o still triggered SD-like waves and glutamate efflux. Under such a condition, glutamate release was blocked by mitochondrial Na+/Ca2+ exchanger inhibitors that likely blocked calcium release from mitochondria secondary to NMDA-induced Na+ influx. Therefore presynaptic NMDA receptor activation is sufficient for triggering vesicular glutamate release during SD via both calcium entry and release from mitochondria by mitochondrial Na+/Ca2+ exchanger. Our observations suggest that presynaptic NMDARs contribute to a cycle of glutamate-induced glutamate release that mediate high [K+]o-triggered SD.

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Endogenous Adenosine Reduces Glutamatergic Output From Rods Through Activation of A2-Like Adenosine Receptors

Journal of Neurophysiology ◽

10.1152/jn.00671.2002 ◽

2003 ◽

Vol 90 (1) ◽

pp. 165-174 ◽

Cited By ~ 29

Author(s):

Salvatore L. Stella ◽

Eric J. Bryson ◽

Lucia Cadetti ◽

Wallace B. Thoreson

Keyword(s):

Adenosine Receptors ◽

Transmitter Release ◽

Glutamate Release ◽

Second Order ◽

Inhibitory Effects ◽

Light Responses ◽

Endogenous Adenosine ◽

Cgs 21680 ◽

Perforated Patch Clamp ◽

Reduced Light

Adenosine is released from retina in darkness; photoreceptors possess A2 adenosine receptors, and A2 agonists inhibit L-type Ca2+ currents ( ICa) in rods. We therefore investigated whether A2 agonists inhibit rod inputs into second-order neurons and whether selective antagonists to A1, A2A, or A3 receptors prevent Ca2+ influx through rod ICa. [Ca2+]i changes in rods were assessed with fura-2. ICa in rods and light responses of rods and second-order neurons were recorded using perforated patch-clamp techniques in the aquatic tiger salamander retinal slice preparation. Consistent with earlier results using the A2 agonist N6-[2-(3,5-dimethoxyphenyl)-2-(2-methylphenyl)-ethyl]adenosine (DPMA), the A2A agonist CGS-21680 significantly inhibited ICa and depolarization-evoked [Ca2+]i increases in rods. The A1 antagonist, 8-cyclopentyl-1,3-dipropylxanthine (DPCPX), and A2A antagonist, ZM-241385, but not the A3 antagonist, VUF-5574, inhibited effects of adenosine on Ca2+ influx in rods. DPCPX and ZM-241385 also inhibited effects of CGS-21680, suggesting they both act at A2A receptors. Both A2 agonists, CGS-21680 and DPMA, reduced light-evoked currents in second-order neurons but not light-evoked voltage responses of rods, suggesting that activation of A2 receptors inhibits transmitter release from rods. The inhibitory effects of CGS-21680 on both depolarization-evoked Ca2+ influx and light-evoked currents in second-order neurons were antagonized by ZM-241385. By itself, ZM-241385 enhanced the light-evoked currents in second-order neurons, suggesting that endogenous levels of adenosine inhibit transmitter release from rods. The effects of these drugs suggest that endogenous adenosine activates an A2-like adenosine receptor on rods leading to inhibition of ICa, which in turn inhibits l-glutamate release from rod photoreceptors.

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