Antagonism of synaptic and amino acid induced excitation in the cuneate nucleus of the cat by HA-966

Abstract

The effects of 1-hydroxy-3-aminopyrrolid-2-one (HA-966) have been investigated on synaptically and chemically excited neurones in the cuneate nucleus of the cat. HA-966 was shown to reduce both the synaptic excitation of cuneate neurones induced by stimulating peripheral nerves or sensory receptors and the chemical excitation of the same cells induced by microelectrophoretic administration of l-glutamate and/or l-aspartate. Preliminary findings indicate that HA-966 does not have a mechanism of action similar to that of either GABA or glycine, and the possibility is discussed that the compound blocks excitatory amino acid receptor sites.