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Evidence for an in vivo and in vitro modulation of endogenous cortical GABA release by α-glycerylphosphorylcholine

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Abstract

The effects of α-glycerylphosphorylcholine (α-GPC) on endogenous cortical GABA release were studied both in vivo and in vitro. In freely moving rats, equipped with epidural cups, α-GPC (30–300 mg/kg i.p.) increased GABA release. This effect was potentiated by atropine, both systematically administered (5 mg/kg i.p.) and locally applied (1.4 μM), but not by mecamylamine (4 mg/kg i.p.). The α-GPC-induced increasein GABA release was abolished in rats pretreated with the α1 receptor antagonist prazosin (14 μg/kg i.p.). In cortical slices α-GPC (0.4 mM) increased the spontaneous GABA efflux. This effectwas abolished by tetrodotoxin (0.5 μM) and prazosin (1 μM), but not by atropine (0.15 μM) ormecamylamine (2.5μM). These results indicate that the facilitatory response by α-GPC on GABArelease does not depend on a direct activation of either muscarinic or nicotinic receptors, but suggest the involvement of the noradrenergic system.

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Ferraro, L., Tanganelli, S., Marani, L. et al. Evidence for an in vivo and in vitro modulation of endogenous cortical GABA release by α-glycerylphosphorylcholine. Neurochem Res 21, 547–552 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02527751

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