Involvement of periaqueductal gray area NMDA receptors in endothelin-induced behavioural effects

Eur J Pharmacol. 1993 Nov 30;250(1):209-12. doi: 10.1016/0014-2999(93)90647-z.

Abstract

We investigated the behavioural effects induced by endothelin-1 injected into the lateral-caudal periaqueductal gray matter of freely moving rats. Endothelin-1 induced a dose-dependent longitudinal rolling of the body (barrel rolling) which was prevented by D,L-2-amino-5-phosphonovalerate (2-APV), an N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonist, but not by 6-cyano-7-nitroquinoxaline-2,3-dione (CNQX), a non-NMDA receptor antagonist. This effect, not reproducible with NMDA alone, indicates that the activation of the NMDA receptors in the periaqueductal gray area may be a necessary, but not sufficient, step for the triggering of endothelin-1-induced barrel-rolling behaviour.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • 2-Amino-5-phosphonovalerate / pharmacology
  • 6-Cyano-7-nitroquinoxaline-2,3-dione
  • Animals
  • Behavior, Animal / drug effects*
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Endothelins / administration & dosage
  • Endothelins / pharmacology*
  • Male
  • Motor Activity / drug effects
  • Periaqueductal Gray / drug effects*
  • Quinoxalines / pharmacology
  • Rats
  • Rats, Sprague-Dawley
  • Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate / physiology*

Substances

  • Endothelins
  • Quinoxalines
  • Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate
  • 6-Cyano-7-nitroquinoxaline-2,3-dione
  • 2-Amino-5-phosphonovalerate