Prostaglandin E2 stimulates glutamate release from synaptosomes of rat spinal cord.

We recently reported that intrathecal administration of prostaglandin E2 induced hyperalgesic and allodynic effects through the glutamate receptor system. Here we examined whether prostaglandin E2 could evoke amino acid release from nerve terminals using rat spinal cord synaptosomes. Exposure in superfusion to prostaglandin E2 significantly increased endogenous glutamate and aspartate release and dose dependencies showed bell-shaped patterns with a peak at 1 nM. Both releases were almost absolutely Ca(2+)-dependent. These results demonstrate that prostaglandin E2 may stimulate the release of excitatory amino acids presynaptically in the spinal cord.