A NOVEL ORALLY-ACTIVE GROUP-2 METABOTROPIC GLUTAMATE-RECEPTOR AGONIST- LY354740

Non-specific metabotropic glutamate receptor (mGluR) agonists have pre viously been shown to potentiate responses of spinal neurones to ionot ropic glutamate receptor agonists. In this study we show that LY354740 , which is a highly selective Group 2 mGluR agonist with nanomolar pot ency in vitro, also mimics the above effects following local ejection on spinal neurones in vivo, an action which is blocked by a Group 2 an tagonist. Despite its polar nature, LY354740 is also active given eith er by the i.v. or the oral route (2.5-20 mg/kg) and thus will be a use ful agent for investigating the role of Group 2 mGluRs both physiologi cally and clinically.