GLUTAMATE METABOTROPIC RECEPTORS MODULATE THE EXPRESSION OF IN-VITRO EPILEPTIFORM ACTIVITY IN RAT HIPPOCAMPAL SLICES

The effects of the mixed class I and II mGLUR agonist (+) 1S,3R-trans- amino-cyclopentane-1,3-dicarboxylic acid (ACPD) and antagonists (+) al pha-methyl-4-carboxyphenylglycine (MCPG) and L-2-amino-3-phosphonoprop ionic acid (L-AP3) on the basal neuronal excitability and on the expre ssion of in vitro epileptiform activity produced by the convulsant dru gs picrotoxin and penicillin were investigated in rat hippocampal slic es. The duration of the CA1 epileptiform bursting produced by 0.05 mM picrotoxin or 1 mM penicillin or 0.075 mM ACPD was significantly (p<0. 05) and dose-dependently decreased by 0.3-0.5 mM MCPG or L-AP3, but no t by 0.05 mM ACPD. The data demostrate an involvement of class I and I I mGLURs in the basal neuronal excitability and in the expression of i n vitro epileptiform activity produced by some convulsants. (C) 1997 E lsevier Science Inc.