The inhibition of agonist- or depolarisation-evoked formation of inositol phosphate by excitatory amino acids in rat cerebral cortex is due to the neurotoxic action of this class of neurotransmitter and is mediated by sodium influx.

Previous work has shown that excitatory amino acids inhibit agonist or depolarisation evoked formation of inositol phosphate in brain. In this paper, possible mechanisms by which this may be occurring have been investigated. The inhibition of carbachol-stimulated formation of inositol phosphate by kainic acid (KA) was abolished if the tissue was incubated in a sodium-free medium. The sodium channel activator, veratridine (10 microM) and the sodium ionophore, monensin (3 microM), also inhibited the response of inositol phosphate to carbachol; tetrodotoxin (300 nM) reversed the effect of veratridine but not monensin or KA. Incubation with cadmium (0.3 mM) or removal of extracellular calcium did not alter the effects of KA, monensin or veratridine. The effects of KA were significantly reduced with the Na+/K(+)-ATPase inhibitor, ouabain (10-100 microM). Inhibition by KA was still observed in tissue that had been prestimulated with KA and then washed to remove the agonist. Incorporation of [3H]inositol into inositol lipids was significantly reduced by KA, in the absence or presence of carbachol. It is suggested that the inhibition of the turnover of stimulated phosphoinositide, by excitatory amino acids, is related to the neurotoxic actions of these transmitters and is mediated by Na+ influx, with a consequent activation of Na+/K(+)-ATPase, depletion of cellular ATP and reduction in synthesis of inositol lipid.