Nanomolar concentrations of kynurenic acid reduce extracellular dopamine levels in the striatum |
| |
Authors: | Rassoulpour Arash Wu Hui-Qiu Ferre Sergi Schwarcz Robert |
| |
Institution: | Maryland Psychiatric Research Center, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland 21218, USA. |
| |
Abstract: | Precise regulation of dopaminergic activity is of obvious importance for the physiology and pathology of basal ganglia. We report here that nanomolar concentrations of the astrocyte-derived neuroinhibitory metabolite kynurenic acid (KYNA) potently reduce the extracellular levels of striatal dopamine in unanesthetized rats in vivo. This effect, which is initiated by the KYNA-induced blockade of alpha7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptors, highlights the functional relevance of glia-neuron interactions in the striatum and indicates that even modest increases in the brain levels of endogenous KYNA are capable of interfering with dopaminergic neurotransmission. |
| |
Keywords: | α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor basal ganglia glia–neuron interactions kynurenines neurodegenerative diseases schizophrenia |
本文献已被 PubMed 等数据库收录! |