In vivo presynaptic control of dopamine release in the cat caudate nucleus--III. Further evidence for the implication of corticostriatal glutamatergic neurons.

In confirmation of previous results, experiments in halothane-anaesthetized cats implanted with push-pull cannulae showed that the unilateral application of GABA (10(-5) M for 30 min) into the left thalamic motor nuclei (either ventralis medialis, or ventralis lateralis) markedly stimulated the release of [3H]dopamine continuously synthesized from [3H]tyrosine in both caudate nuclei and in the contralateral substantia nigra. Three types of experiments confirmed that the changes in [3H]dopamine release evoked in both caudate nuclei resulted from a presynaptic facilitation mediated by the bilateral corticostriatal glutamatergic projection: The constant delivery of 2-amino 6-trifluoromethoxy benzothiazole (PK 26124) (10(-5) M) to the left caudate nucleus prevented the increased release of [3H]DA evoked by application of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) (10(-5)M) into ventralis medialis-ventralis lateralis while an enhanced release of [3H]dopamine still occurred in the contralateral caudate nucleus. Since PK 26124 is an antagonist of glutamatergic transmission, the presynaptic facilitation may involve glutamatergic neurons. Single unit recordings of dopamine cells in the contralateral substantia nigra indicated that the increased release of [3H]dopamine from dendrites evoked by the application of GABA (10(-5)M) into ventralis medialis-ventralis lateralis was associated with a reduction in the firing rate of dopamine cells. Thus, the enhanced release of [3H]dopamine in the contralateral caudate nucleus may involve a presynaptic facilitatory process. Finally, the unilateral lesion of the sensory motor cortex made prior to the superfusion of caudate nucleus with [3H]tyrosine prevented the responses evoked in the two caudate nuclei by the application of GABA (10(-4) M) into ventralis medialis-ventralis lateralis.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)