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Involvement of metabotropic glutamate receptors in taurine release in the adult and developing mouse hippocampus

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Summary

The inhibitory amino acid taurine has been held to function as an osmoregulator and modulator of neural activity, being particularly important in the immature brain. lonotropic glutamate receptor agonists are known markedly to potentiate taurine release. The effects of different metabotropic glutamate receptor (mGluR) agonists and antagonists on the basal and K+-stimulated release of [3H]taurine from hippocampal slices from 3-month-old (adult) and 7-day-old mice were now investigated using a superfusion system. Of group I metabotropic glutamate receptor agonists, quisqualate potentiated basal taurine release in both age groups, more markedly in the immature hippocampus. This action was not antagonized by the specific antagonists of group I but by 6-cyano-7-nitroquinoxaline-2,3-dione (CNQX) and 6-nitro-7-sulphamoylbenzo[f]quinoxaline-2,3-dione (NBQX), which would suggest an involvement of ionotropic glutamate receptors. (S)-3,5-dihydroxyphenylglycine (DHPG) potentiated the basal release by a receptor-mediated mechanism in the immature hippocampus. The group II agonist (2S, 2′R, 3′R)-2-(2′,3′-dicarboxycyclopropyl)glycine (DCG IV) markedly potentiated basal taurine release at both ages. These effects were antagonized by dizocilpine, indicating again the participation of ionotropic receptors. Group III agonists slightly potentiated basal taurine release, as did several antagonists of the three metabotropic receptor groups. Potassium-stimulated (50 mM K+) taurine release was generally significantly reduced by mGluR agents, mainly by group I and II compounds. This may be harmful to neurons in hyperexcitatory states. On the other hand, the potentiation by mGluRs of basal taurine release, particularly in the immature hippocampus, together with the earlier demonstrated pronounced enhancement by activation of ionotropic glutamate receptors, may protect neurons against excitotoxicity.

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Abbreviations

ACPD:

(1±)-1-aminocyclopentane-trans-1,3-dicarboxylate

AIDA:

(RS)-1-aminoindan-1,5-dicarboxylate

AMPA:

2-amino-3-hydroxy05-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionate

CNQX:

6-cyano-7-nitroquinoxaline-2,3-dione

CPPG:

(RS)-2-cyclopropyl-4-phosphonophenylglycine

DCG IV:

(2S,2′R,3′R)-2-(2′,3′-dicarboxycyclopropyl)glycine

DHPG:

(S)-3,5-dihydroxyphenylglycine

EGLU:

(2S)-2-ethylglutamate

L-AP3:

L(+)-2-amino-3-phosphonopropionate

L-AP4:

L(+)-2-amino-4-phosphonobutyrate

L-AP6:

L(+)-2-amino-6-phosphonohexanoate

L-SOP:

O-phospho-L-serine

MPPG:

(RS)-2-methyl-4-phosphonophenylglycine

MSOP:

(RS)-2-methylserine-O-phosphate

MSOPPE:

(RS)-2-methylserine-O-phosphate monophenyl ester

MTPG:

(RS)-2-methyl-4-tetrazolylphenylglycine

NBQX:

6-nitro-7-sulphamoyl[f]quinoxaline-2,3-dione

NMDA:

N-methyl-D-aspartate

QA:

quisqualate

S-3C4H-PG:

(S)-3-carboxy-4-hydroxyphenylglycine

S-4C-PG:

(S)-4-carboxyphenylglycine;

S-MCGP:

(S)-2-methyl-4-carboxyphenylglycine

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  1. Tampere Brain Research Center, University of Tampere Medical School, Box 607, FIN-33101, Tampere, Finland

    Pirjo Saransaari & S. S. Oja

  2. Department of Clinical Physiology, Tampere University Hospital, Tampere, Finland

    S. S. Oja

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  1. Pirjo Saransaari
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Saransaari, P., Oja, S.S. Involvement of metabotropic glutamate receptors in taurine release in the adult and developing mouse hippocampus. Amino Acids 16, 165–179 (1999). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01321534

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