Potent NMDA-like actions and potentiation of glutamate responses by conformational variants of a glutamate analogue in the rat spinal cord

2-(Carboxycyclopropyl)glycines: binding, neurotoxicity and induction of intracellular free Ca2+ increase

The excitatory actions of the eight stereoisomers of 2-(carboxycyclopropyl)glycine (CCG), conformationally rigid glutamate analogues, were analyzed for the glutamate receptor subtypes by means of binding assays with rat brain membranes. All CCG isomers inhibited the binding of [3H]3-(2-carboxypiperazine-4-yl)propyl-1-phosphonic acid ([3H]CPP) to N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors. The (2S,3R,4S) isomer (L-CCG-IV) was the most potent agonist for the NMDA receptor and its binding potency was 17- and 790-fold higher than that of L-glutamate and NMDA, respectively. The (2S,3S,4R) isomer (L-CCG-III) showed a potent inhibitory activity for [3H]D-aspartate uptake. Further, L-CCG-IV caused a marked increase of intracellular free Ca2+ concentration [( Ca2+]i) and potent neurotoxicity in the single rat cerebral cortical neurons in vitro, and both were blocked effectively by the NMDA antagonists. Significant correlations were observed between neurotoxicity and the increase of [Ca2+]i and [3H]CPP binding affinity to the NMDA receptor.

A significant increase in intracellular Ca2+ concentration induced by (2S,3R,4S)-2-(carboxycyclopropyl)glycine, a new potent NMDA agonist, in cultured rat hippocampal neurons

The increase in intracellular Ca2+ concentration, [Ca2+]i, induced by isomers of 2-(carboxycyclopropyl)glycine (CCG) was examined in cultured rat hippocampal neurons. Some CCG isomers and N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) increased [Ca2+]i in a concentration dependent manner. The 2S,3R,4S isomer of CCG (L-CCG-IV) was the most potent in elevating [Ca2+]i, and its activity was more than 100 times higher than that of NMDA and about 10 times higher than that of L-glutamate. The increase in [Ca2+]i was effectively blocked by NMDA blockers and Mg2+, and was markedly augmented by the addition of a low concentration of glycine. L-CCG-IV would be a useful tool for elucidation of functions of NMDA receptors.

Novel kainate derivatives: potent depolarizing actions on spinal motoneurones and dorsal root fibres in newborn rats

1. Neuropharmacological actions of several kainate derivatives (kainoids) were examined for electrophysiological effects in the isolated spinal cord and the dorsal root fibre of the newborn rat. 2. Some kainoids caused depolarization of the motoneurone much more effectively than kainic acid or domoic acid and others were weaker. The rank order of the depolarizing activities of the kainoids tested here is as follows: 4-(2-methoxyphenyl)-2-carboxy-3-pyrrolidineacetic acid (MFPA) greater than acromelic acid A greater than domoic acid greater than or equal to 4-(2-hydroxyphenyl)-2-carboxy-3-pyrrolidineacetic acid (HFPA) greater than or equal to acromelic acid B greater than kainic acid. 3. In the isolated dorsal root fibre, domoic acid caused the most significant depolarization. There were distinct differences with regard to the rank order of the depolarizing activity between the motoneurone and the dorsal root fibre. The rank order in the dorsal root fibre is domoic acid greater than acromelic acid B greater than 5-bromowillardiine greater than or equal to MFPA greater than acromelic acid A greater than HFPA greater than kainic acid. 4. Significant desensitization of kainate receptors was observed in the isolated dorsal root fibre during prolonged application of L-glutamate, kainate and its derivatives. Cross desensitization was also observed among these excitatory amino acids. Receptors desensitized by kainate did not respond to MFPA, HFPA and acromelic acids, suggesting that these kainate derivatives activated common kainate receptors in the dorsal root fibre.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Changes in preference for receptor subtypes of configurational variants of a glutamate analog: conversion from the NMDA-type to the non-NMDA type

The (2S,3R,4S) isomer of 2-(carboxycyclopropyl)glycines (CCG) (L-CCG-IV) is a potent NMDA-type agonist in the mammalian central nervous system. L-CCG-IV is a conformationally restricted glutamate analogue in which the cyclopropyl group fixes the glutamate chain, and closely mimics the folded conformation of L-glutamate. (6R)-Substituted L-CCG-IV, however, demonstrated pharmacological properties of non-NMDA type agonists in the newborn rat spinal motoneuron while (6S)-CCG derivatives showed similar properties to the parent compound, L-CCG-IV. In the dorsal root fiber of newborn rats, (6R)-methoxymethyl and benzyloxymethyl substituted L-CCG-IV caused kainate-like depolarization. The depolarizing potency of (6R)-benzyloxymethyl substituted L-CCG-IV was slightly lower than that of kainate, demonstrating a relatively high potency.

A potent metabotropic glutamate receptor agonist: electrophysiological actions of a conformationally restricted glutamate analogue in the rat spinal cord and Xenopus oocytes

The (2S,3S,4S) isomer of alpha-(carboxycyclopropyl)glycine (L-CCG-I), a conformationally restricted glutamate analogue, caused a marked depolarization of motoneurons in the isolated rat spinal cord, which was almost insensitive to CPP and CNQX. Depolarizing responses to L-CCG-I were markedly decreased by reducing the temperature of the bathing fluid. Similar results were obtained in the case of trans-ACPD, which is a metabotropic glutamate receptor agonist, but the depolarizing action of L-CCG-I was more potent than that of trans-ACPD. In Xenopus oocytes injected with poly(A)+ mRNA extracted from the rat brain, L-CCG-I induced significant oscillatory chloride currents, suggesting that L-CCG-I is a potent agonist for metabotropic-type glutamate receptors.