Jpn. J. Pharmacol. 73 (3), 243-246 (1997)


Methamphetamine-Induced Sensitization of Dopamine Release via a Metabotropic Glutamate Receptor Mediated Pathway in Rat Striatal Slices

Ikumi Arai (1), Takao Shimazoe (1,*), Shigenobu Shibata (2), Hirotaka Inoue (1), Akiko Yoshimatsu (1) and Shigenori Watanabe (1)

(1) Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kyushu University 62, Fukuoka 812-82, Japan
(2) Department of Pharmacology, School of Human Sciences, Waseda University, Tokorozawa, Saitama 359, Japan
(*) To whom correspondence should be addressed.


Abstract: We studied the roles of metabotropic glutamate receptors in methamphetamine (MAP)-induced sensitization of dopamine (DA) release from striatal slices. Rats were first treated with MAP (1 mg/kg, i.p.) once daily for 6 consecutive days. After a 6-day withdrawal, DA release from striatal slices evoked by +/--1-aminocyclopentane-trans-1,3-dicarboxylic acid (trans-ACPD) was measured. trans-ACPD-induced DA release was significantly enhanced in MAP-sensitized rats, but the inactive form of trans-ACPD (1R,3S-ACPD) did not enhance DA release. The active form of trans-ACPD (1S,3R-ACPD) (0.1 mM)-evoked DA release was attenuated by treatment with 0.4 mM RS-alpha-methyl-4-carboxyphenyl-glycine, a metabotropic glutamate receptor antagonist. The present results suggest that metabotropic glutamate receptors play an important role in expression of MAP-induced sensitization.

Keywords: Methamphetamine-induced sensitization, Striatal dopamine release, Metabotropic glutamate receptor


Copyright© The Japanese Pharmacological Society 1997

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