Distinct muscarinic receptors inhibit release of γ-aminobutyric acid and excitatory amino acids in mammalian brain

S. Sugita, N. Uchimura, Z. G. Jiang, R. A. North

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

169 Scopus citations

Abstract

Intracellular recordings were made from neurons of rat lateral amygdala, nucleus accumbens, and striatum in vitro. Synaptic potentials mediated by γ-aminobutyric acid and by excitatory amino acids were isolated pharmacologically by using receptor antagonists, and their amplitudes were used as a measure of transmitter release. Muscarine and acetylcholine inhibited the release of both γ-aminobutyric acid and excitatory amino acids, but measurements of the dissociation equilibrium constants for the antagonists pirenzepine, 11-{2-[(diethylamino)methyl]-1-piperidinyl}acetyl-5,11-dihydro-6H-pyrido[2,3-b] [1,4]benzodiazepine-6-one, methoctramine, and hexahydrosiladifenidol indicated clearly that different muscarinic receptors were involved (M1 and probably M3, respectively). The differential localization of distinct muscarinic receptor subtypes on terminals releasing the major inhibitory and excitatory transmitters of the brain could be exploited therapeutically in some movement disorders and Alzheimer disease.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)2608-2611
Number of pages4
JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
Volume88
Issue number6
StatePublished - 1991

Keywords

  • Amygdala
  • Electrophysiology
  • M and M receptors
  • Presynaptic inhibition
  • Striatum

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General

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