Endogenous monoamines inhibit glutamate transmission in the spinal trigeminal nucleus of the guinea-pig

R. Alberto Travagli, John T. Williams

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

80 Scopus citations

Abstract

1. With the use of whole-cell patch clamp recordings in slices of guinea-pig substantia gelatinosa (SG), we studied the serotonin (5-HT)- and noradrenaline (NA)-mediated inhibition of glutamate-mediated EPSCs evoked from primary afferent stimulation. 2. The frequency of spontaneous EPSPs was reduced by 5-HT and NA. 3. The inhibition of EPSCs caused by 5-HT was mediated by the 5-HT(1D) receptor subtype, since the 5-HT(1D) agonist, sumatriptan (1 μM), was effective. 4. NA and the α2-agonist, 5-bromo-N-(4,5-dihydro-1H-imidazol-2-yl)-6-quinoxalinamine (UK 14304), decreased the EPSCs and this inhibition was blocked by the α2-antagonists, idazoxan (1 μM) and yohimbine (1 μM). 5. The 5-HT-releasing agent, fenfluramine (10 μM), and the NA-releasing agent, amphetamine (1 μM), also depressed EPSCs. Pretreatment of slices with the 5-HT-depleting agent, p-chloro-amphetamine (10 μM), attenuated the inhibition of fenfluramine but failed to antagonize the effects of exogenously applied 5-HT. 6. These in vitro results suggest that presynaptic inhibition of glutamate release from primary afferents can provide another mechanism to explain the antinociceptive effects of 5-HT and NA obtained in vivo.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)177-185
Number of pages9
JournalJournal of Physiology
Volume491
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Feb 15 1996

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Physiology

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Endogenous monoamines inhibit glutamate transmission in the spinal trigeminal nucleus of the guinea-pig'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this