Positive N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor modulation by selective glycine transporter-1 inhibition in the rat dorsal spinal cord in vivo.

Abstract In this study we have employed the selective glycine transporter-1 (GlyT-1) and GlyT-2 transporter inhibitors R -(−)- N -methyl- N -[3-[(4-trifluoromethyl)phenoxy]-3-phenyl-propyl]glycine (1:1) lithium salt (Org 24598) and 4-benzyloxy-3,5-dimethoxy- N -[1-(dimethylaminocyclopently)methyl]benzamide (Org 25543), respectively, and microdialysis perfusion to determine the effect of GlyT transporter inhibition on extracellular amino acid concentrations in the lumbar dorsal spinal cord of the halothane-anaesthetised rat. Reverse dialysis of Org 24598 (0.1–10 μM) induced a concentration-related increase in extracellular glycine accompanied by a progressive increase in citrulline, but not aspartate, glutamate or GABA, efflux. Org 25543 (10 μM) by the same route induced a similar increase in glycine levels without affecting the efflux of other amino acids quantified. To test the hypothesis that the increase in citrulline efflux resulted from activation of the N -methyl- d -aspartate receptor (NMDA-R)/nitric oxide synthase (NOS) signalling cascade, the sensitivity was determined of GlyT-1 inhibition-induced effects to NMDA-R antagonism or NOS inhibition. Co-administration by reverse dialysis of the selective NMDA-R channel blocker MK-801 (0.5 mM) or the selective antagonist of the strychnine-insensitive glycine site, 7-chlorokynurenic acid (1 mM), with Org 24598 (10 μM) did not affect the uptake inhibition-induced increase in glycine efflux, but did significantly attenuate the increase in extracellular citrulline. Similarly, co-administration with Org 24598 of the isoform non-selective and selective neuronal NOS inhibitors N ω -nitro- l -arginine methyl ester (1 mM) or 1-(2-trifluoromethylphenyl)imidazole (0.2 mM), respectively, prevented Org 24598-induced citrulline efflux with no effect on increased glycine efflux. These data provide evidence that the observed increased in extracellular citrulline is a consequence of positive modulation of NMDA-R, secondary to increased extracellular glycine and support a protective role for GlyT-1 against fluctuations in extracellular glycine uptake at glutamatergic synapses in the dorsal spinal cord. Such a mechanism could be important to NMDA-R-mediated synaptic plasticity in the spinal cord and be of relevance to the clinical usage of GlyT-1 inhibitors.