NMDA-EVOKED ADENOSINE RELEASE FROM RAT CORTEX DOES NOT REQUIRE THE INTERMEDIATE FORMATION OF NITRIC-OXIDE

Excitatory amino acids (EAAs) such as glutamate release the inhibitory neuromodulator adenosine from superfused rat cortical slices through the activation of both NMDA and non-NMDA EAA receptors. This study inv estigated the possibility that NMDA-evoked adenosine release may invol ve the intermediate formation of nitric oxide (NO). However, sodium ni troprusside did not evoke the release of adenosine, L-arginine did not augment and L-N(upsilon)-nitroarginine did not diminish NMDA-evoked a denosine release. It appears. therefore, that NMDA-evoked NO formation does not play a role in NMDA-evoked adenosine release in the cortex.