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Effects of glutamate and MK-801 on the metabolism of dopamine in the striatum of normal and parkinsonian rats

Duan Chunli, Sun Xiaohong, Ji Man, Yang Hui

Beijing Institute for Neurosciences, Beijing Center for Neural Regeneration and Repairing, Capital University of Medical Science.Beijing 100054

Abstract

The direct effects of glutamate and dizocilpine maleate (MK-801, non-competitive N-Methyl-d-aspartate glutamate receptor antagonist) on the metabolism of dopamine were investigated in striatum of normal and parkinsonian rats. L-dopa, L-glutamic acid and MK-801 were administered in the striatum locally by microdialysis. 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC) and homovanillic acid (HVA) were simultaneously sampled by microdialysis. The concentrations of DOPAC and HVA were assayed by high performance liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection (HPLC-ECD). L-dopa increased the concentrations of DOPAC and HVA in the striatum of normal and the parkinsonian rats. L-glutamic acid decreased the concentrations of DOPAC and HVA in striatum of normal rats but not the parkinsonian rats. MK-801 increased the concentrations of DOPAC and HVA in the striatum of normal rats but not the parkinsonian rats. MK-801 prevented the decrease of DOPAC and HVA in the striatum of normal rats. Our results indicate that glutamate modulates the metabolism of DA through NMDA receptors and that the improvement of PD by MK-801 is not through improving the metabolism of DA.

Key words: Parkinson's disease;Microdialysis;Rat;Glutamate;Dizocilpine Maleate;3,4-Dihydroxyphenylacetic Acid;Homovanillic acid

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Citing This Article：

Duan Chunli, Sun Xiaohong, Ji Man, Yang Hui. Effects of glutamate and MK-801 on the metabolism of dopamine in the striatum of normal and parkinsonian rats. Acta Physiol Sin 2005; 57 (1): (in Chinese with English abstract).