Noradrenergic modulation of glutamate release in the cerebellum.

The effect of alpha- and beta-adrenergic agonists has been studied on the release of newly synthesized [3H]glutamate and [3H]GABA from slices of rat cerebellum. The beta 2-adrenergic agonist salbutamol, and also noradrenaline in the presence of the alpha-adrenergic antagonist phentolamine, both potentiated the K+-evoked release of [3H]glutamate. This potentiation appears to be mediated by adenylate cyclase activation. No effects of beta-adrenergic stimulation were observed on [3H]GABA release. The alpha-adrenergic agonist clonidine inhibited both the [3H]glutamate and the [3H]GABA release evoked by K+. The results suggest that noradrenergic modulation of cerebellar activity may have a presynaptic as well as postsynaptic origin.