Nicotine stimulation of extracellular glutamate levels in the nucleus accumbens: neuropharmacological characterization.

In the present study, we have characterized the neuropharmacological regulation of nicotine-induced increases in extracellular nucleus accumbens glutamate levels. Sprague-Dawley rats were stereotaxically implanted with 2 mm microdialysis probes in the nucleus accumbens and on the following day in vivo microdialysis experiments were performed in awake, freely moving animals. An acute dose of nicotine (0.3-0.6 mg/kg, s.c.) produced an increase in nucleus accumbens glutamate levels with a maximal increase of approximately 50% following the higher dose. No changes in nucleus accumbens aspartate levels were found. The increase in glutamate levels following nicotine (0.3 mg/kg, s.c.) was blocked by mecamylamine (1 mg/kg, i.p. ) but not by haloperidol (0.2 mg/kg, i.p.) pretreatment. Local perfusion of artificial cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) without calcium did not alter nicotine (0.3 mg/kg, s.c.) stimulation of glutamate levels. Local perfusion with a selective blocker for the GLT-1 glutamate transporter, dihydrokainic acid (DHKA) (10(-4) M), had no effect, while local perfusion with a nonselective glutamate transporter blocker, L-trans-pyrrolidine-2,4-dicarboxylic acid (PDC) (10(-4) M), blocked nicotine (0.3 mg/kg, s.c.) stimulation of glutamate levels. In animals previously dopamine denervated by local injections of 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) into the nucleus accumbens, nicotine (0.3 mg/kg, s.c.) stimulation of glutamate levels was enhanced vs. sham-lesioned animals. These findings demonstrate a novel form of nucleus accumbens glutamate release that is dopamine- and calcium-independent. The ability of PDC to block the effects of nicotine suggest that a glutamate transporter may be involved in mediating the stimulation of glutamate release. Copyright 2000 Wiley-Liss, Inc.