Cholecystokinin (CCK) increases GABA release in the rat anterior nucleus accumbens via CCK_B receptors located on glutamatergic interneurons

Abstract.

The effects of cholecystokinin sulfate octapeptide (CCK-8S) on [³H]γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) release have been studied in the anterior side of the rat nucleus accumbens on tissue punches exposed in superfusion to 30 mM KCl. CCK-8S in a concentration dependent manner (10–3000 nM) increased K⁺-evoked [³H]GABA release (EC₅₀=192 nM). The increase caused by 1 µM CCK-8S ranged from 37% to 42%. CR 2945, (β-[2-[[2-(8-azaspiro[4.5]dec-8-ylcarbonyl)-4,6-dimethylphenyl]-amino]-2-oxoethyl]-(R)-1-naphthalenepropanoic acid), a potent and selective nonpeptidergic CCK_B antagonist, concentration-dependently blocked CCK-8S effect (IC₅₀=2.16 nM). CCK-8S-induced increase in [³H]GABA overflow was completely blocked by 1 µM tetrodotoxin. Both the α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methylisoxazole-4-propionate (AMPA)/kainate receptor antagonist 6,7-dinitroquinoxaline-2,3-dione (DNQX) and the N-methyl-d-aspartic acid (NMDA) receptor antagonist dizocilpine (MK-801) antagonized the CCK-8S effect. By contrast, (+)-bicuculline, a GABA_A receptor antagonist, was completely ineffective. Phaclofen, a selective GABA_B antagonist, increased K⁺-evoked [³H]GABA release but did not affect the facilitative effect of CCK-8S. Moreover, tetrodotoxin failed to block AMPA-evoked [³H]GABA release but completely prevented the effect of NMDA (Mg²⁺ free conditions)

The data presented suggest that CCK_B receptors modulating [³H]GABA release from anterior accumbal punches may not be present on GABAergic terminals but could be located on glutamatergic interneurons.