Immobilization-Induced Glutamate Efflux in Medial Prefrontal Cortex: Blockade by (+)-Mk-801, a Selective NMDA Receptor Antagonist

Abstract

Previous research has shown that stress increases glutamate efflux in the prefrontal cortex. The NMDA receptor has been shown to modulate glutamate efflux. The present study examines the effect of the selective NMDA receptor antagonist (+)-MK-801 (0.5 mg/kg, i.p.) on stress-induced glutamate efflux in the prefrontal cortex. As expected, a 20-minute restraint stress resulted in a significant increase in glutamate efflux. Systemic administration of (+)-MK-801 prior to stress attenuated this increase. This result further confirms the role of the NMDA receptor in the modulation of glutamate efflux and suggests that the NMDA receptor may play a role in stress-induced glutamate efflux. Further experimentation is necessary to determine the exact nature and precise locus of the action of the NMDA receptor regarding this phenomenon.