Non-NMDA excitatory amino acid receptors in the ventral tegmental area mediate systemic dizocilpine (MK-801) induced hyperlocomotion and dopamine release in the nucleus accumbens.

This study investigated the putative role of non-NMDA excitatory amino acid (EAA) receptors in the ventral tegmental area (VTA) for the increase in dopamine (DA) release in the nucleus accumbens (NAC) and behavioral stimulation induced by systemically administered dizocilpine (MK-801). Microdialysis was utilized in freely moving rats implanted with probes in the VTA and NAC. Dialysates from the NAC were analyzed with high-performance liquid chromatography for DA and its metabolites. The VTA was perfused with the AMPA and kainate receptor antagonist CNQX (0.3 or 1 mM) or vehicle. Forty min after onset of CNQX or vehicle perfusion of the VTA, MK-801 (0.1 mg/kg) was injected subcutaneously. Subsequently, typical MK-801 induced behaviors were also assessed in the same animals by direct observation. MK-801 induced hyperlocomotion was associated with a 50% increase of DA levels in NAC dialysates. Both the MK-801 evoked hyperlocomotion and DA release in the NAC was antagonized by CNQX perfusion of the VTA in a concentration-dependent manner. None of the other rated MK-801 evoked behaviors, e.g. head weaving or sniffing, were affected by CNQX perfusion of the VTA. By itself the CNQX or vehicle perfusion of the VTA alone did not affect DA levels in NAC or any of the rated behaviors. These results indicate that MK-801 induced hyperlocomotion and DA release in the NAC are largely elicited within the VTA via activation of non-NMDA EAA receptors, tentatively caused by increased EAA release. Thus, the locomotor stimulation induced by psychotomimetic NMDA receptor antagonists may not only reflect impaired NMDA receptor function, but also enhanced AMPA and/or kainate receptor activation in brain, e.g., in the VTA. In view of their capacity to largely antagonize the behavioral stimulation induced by psychotomimetic drugs, such as MK-801, AMPA, and/or kainate receptor antagonists may possess antipsychotic efficacy.