Nicotinic acetylcholine receptor mediated modulation of evoked excitatory amino acid release in the nucleus tractus solitarius of the rat: Evidence from in vivo microdialysis

Abstract

In vivo microdialysis was used to measure release of endogenous L- glutamate and L-aspartate in the nucleus tractus solitarius of the anaesthetised rat evoked by baroreceptor loading. Aortic constriction, the method of loading, elicited a reproducible increase in extracellular levels of L-glutamate to 322 ± 139% of basal levels, which could be attenuated by concomitant local administration of the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor antagonist mecamylamine (100 μM).