Blockers of NMDA-operated channels decrease glutamate and aspartate extracellular accumulation in striatum during forebrain ischaemia in rats.

Brain microdialysis was used to study changes in the glutamate and aspartate extracellular concentrations in the striatum of conscious rats submitted to 30 minutes cerebral ischaemia, using the four-vessel occlusion model. Perfusion of the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor channel blockers, dizocilpine (MK-801; 75 microM) and Mg2+ (2.5 mM), inhibited the ischaemia-induced accumulation of glutamate and aspartate. The AMPA/kainate receptor antagonist, 2,3-dihydroxy-6-nitro-7-sulfamylbenzo (F) quinoxaline (NBQX; 15 microM and 450 microM) had no effect on glutamate and aspartate levels during ischaemia. On the other hand, omission of Ca2+ from the perfusing solution did not alter the increases in glutamate and aspartate induced by ischaemia. These results suggest that the glutamate and aspartate accumulation in four-vessel occlusion ischaemia is mediated by activation of NMDA receptors in a Ca2+ independent manner.