Domoic acid induced release of [3H]GABA in cultured chick retina cells

Repeated low level domoic acid exposure increases CA1 VGluT1 levels, but not bouton density, VGluT2 or VGAT levels in the hippocampus of adult mice

Domoic acid (DA) is a neurotoxin produced during harmful algal blooms that accumulates in marine organisms that serve as food resources for humans. While acute DA neurotoxicity can cause seizures and hippocampal lesions, less is known regarding how chronic, subacute DA exposure in adulthood impacts the hippocampus. With more frequent occurrences of harmful algal blooms, it is important to understand the potential impact of repeated, low-level DA exposure on human health. To model repeated, low-dose DA exposure, adult mice received a single low-dose (0.75 ± 0.05 μg/g) of DA or vehicle weekly for 22 consecutive weeks. Quantitative immunohistochemistry was performed to assess the effects of repeated, low-level DA exposure on hippocampal cells and synapses. Vesicular glutamate transporter 1 (VGluT1) immunoreactivity within excitatory boutons in CA1 of DA-exposed mice was increased. Levels of other vesicular transporter proteins (i.e., VGluT2 and the vesicular GABA transporter (VGAT)) within boutons, and corresponding bouton densities, were not significantly altered in CA1, CA3, or dentate gyrus. There were no significant changes in neuron density or glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) immunoreactivity following chronic, low-dose exposure. This suggests that repeated low doses of DA, unlike high doses of DA, do not cause neuronal loss or astrocyte activation in hippocampus in adult mice. Instead, these findings demonstrate that repeated exposure to low levels of DA leads to subtle changes in VGluT1 expression within CA1 excitatory boutons, which may alter glutamatergic transmission in CA1 and disrupt behaviors dependent on spatial memory.

Mechanisms underlying domoic acid-induced dopamine release from striatum: an in vivo microdialysis study

The brain microdialysis technique has been used to examine the in vivo effects of the neurotoxin domoic acid (an ionotropic glutamate receptor agonist) on dopamine (DA) release in the striatum of conscious and freely moving rats. Local application of domoic acid (500 microM) through the microdialysis probe produced an increase in striatal DA content (597 +/- 96% with respect to basal levels). The release of DA induced by domoic acid was not attenuated in a Ca(+2)-free medium (469 +/- 59%) or after pretreatment with 10 mg/kg reserpine (533 +/- 79%). Intrastriatal infusion of 1 microM tetrodotoxin (TTX) partially reduced the domoic acid-evoked DA release (278 +/- 34%). Moreover, domoic acid perfusion had no effect on K+-evoked DA release. The results suggest that domoic acid increases the striatal DA release according to a reserpine-independent, calcium-independent and partially TTX-insensitive mechanism, suggesting that these effects probably involve a nonexocytotic process. On the other hand, the inhibitor of DA uptake nomifensine (10 microM) reduced the domoic acid-evoked DA release (356 +/- 59%), suggesting that a carrier-dependent mechanism could be involved in the effect of domoic acid on the striatal DA levels.

Mediation of ionotropic glutamate receptors in domoic acid-induced striatal dopamine release in rats

Our objective was to characterize the mechanism of action of intrastriatal infusion of domoic acid on extracellular dopamine levels, using in vivo dialysis in conscious and freely moving rats. The local infusion of domoic acid (500 microM) caused an increase (567.9+/-142.5%, versus basal) in dopamine extracellular levels associated with a decrease in its metabolites: dihydroxyphenylacetate (DOPAC) and homovanillate (HVA) (47.3+/-4.4% and 33.8+/-4.2%, respectively, compared to basal). Infusion of the amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid/kainate (AMPA/kainate) receptor antagonist, 6,7-dinitroquinoxaline-2,3-dione (DNQX; 200 microM) reversed the effect of domoic acid infusion on striatal dopamine levels. However, the infusion of the selective non-competitive N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonist, dizocilpine (MK-801; 50 microM), did not change significantly the effect of domoic acid on dopamine extracellular levels. In conclusion, based on results with a microdialysis technique, we suggest that domoic acid may act through AMPA/kainate receptors in striatum.

Corelease of two functionally opposite neurotransmitters by retinal amacrine cells: experimental evidence and functional significance

The Dale's law postulates that a neuron releases the same neurotransmitter from all its branches. In the case of multiple neurotransmitters it would require all transmitters to be released from all branches. The retinal cholinergic amacrine cells contain and release gamma-aminobutyric (GABA) and, therefore, if GABA and acetylcholine (ACh) are released at the same sites, this could mean that amacrine cells simultaneously excite and inhibit postsynaptic cells. Conversely, if the two neurotransmitters are released at different synapses, or if their release is regulated in a distinct manner, they may play different physiological roles. Recent studies carried out in cultured cholinergic amacrine-like neurons showed that Ca(2+)-dependent release of ACh and GABA have a different sensitivity to membrane depolarization, to the effect of blockers of voltage gated Ca(2+) channels (VGCC) and to the effect of presynaptic A(1) adenosine receptors. Therefore, it is proposed that in retinal amacrine cells the Ca(2+)-dependent release of ACh and GABA occurs at distinct cellular locations. The possible nature of these release sites and the physiological significance of this model are discussed in this review.

In vivo release of dopamine and its metabolites from rat striatum in response to domoic acid

The microdialysis technique was used to examine the effect of the neurotoxin domoate, an analog of glutamic acid, on striatal dopamine activity. Our results show that the intracerebral administration of different concentrations of domoate (100 and 500 microM) produced increases in the extracellular levels of dopamine associated to decreases in the extracellular levels of its metabolites dihydroxyphenylacetate and homovanillate from rat striatum. These changes seem to be related according to a time sequence, indicating a possible effect on the metabolism of dopamine. Changes were also observed in locomotor activity (cycling behavior, sniffing around and chewing) in rats during the domoate infusion. The physiological mechanism by which domoate increased dopamine release remains to be worked out.

Glutamate in life and death of retinal amacrine cells

1. Glutamate is the neurotransmitter released by bipolar cells at their synapses with amacrine cells. The amacrine cells express ionotropic (NMDA, AMPA and kainate) and metabotropic (mGluR1, mGluR2, mGluR4 and mGluR7) glutamate receptors and may take up glutamate from the synaptic cleft. 2. Activation of the ionotropic glutamate receptors increases the intracellular free calcium concentration ([Ca2+]i), owing to Ca2+ entry through the receptor-associated channels as well as through voltage-gated Ca2+ channels. The [Ca2+]i response to glutamate may be amplified by Ca2+-induced Ca2+ release from intracellular sources. 3. Activation of NMDA and non-NMDA glutamate receptors stimulates the release of GABA and acetylcholine from amacrine cells. GABA is released by a Ca2+-dependent mechanism and by reversal of the neurotransmitter transporter. 4. Excessive activation of glutamate receptors during ischemia leads to amacrine cell death. An increase in [Ca2+]i due to Ca2+ influx through NMDA and AMPA/kainate receptor channels is related to cell death in studies in vitro. In other studies, it was shown that nitric oxide may also take part in the process of cell damage during ischemia.

[Ca2+]i regulation by glutamate receptor agonists in cultured chick retina cells

The effect of glutamate receptor agonists on the intracellular free calcium concentration ([Ca2+]i), measured with Indo-1, was studied in populations of cultured chick embryonic retina cells. The agonists of the ionotropic glutamate receptors, N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA), kainate, and alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid (AMPA) increased the [Ca2+]i through a composite effect, comprising Ca2+ permeating the receptor-associated channels, and Ca2+ entering through voltage-gated Ca2+ channels. Furthermore, the [Ca2+]i responses to NMDA and AMPA also involved Ca2+ release from intracellular stores, which could not be mobilized by stimulation of the metabotropic receptor.