On the origin of extracellular glutamate levels monitored in the basal ganglia of the rat by in vivo microdialysis

Several putative neurotransmitters and metabolites were monitored simultaneously in the extracellular space of neostriatum, substantia nigra, and cortex and in subcutaneous tissue of the rat by in vivo microdialysis. Glutamate (Glu) and aspartate (Asp) were at submicromolar and gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) was at nanomolar concentrations in all brain regions, The highest concentration of dopamine (DA) was in the neostriatum. Dynorphin B (Dyn B) was in the picomolar range in all brain regions. Although no GABA, DA, or Dyn B could be detected in subcutaneous tissue, Glu and Asp levels were approximate to 5 and approximate to 0.4 mu M, respectively. Lactate and pyruvate concentrations were approximate to 200 and approximate to 10 mu M in all regions. The following criteria were applied to ascertain the neuronal origin of substances quantified by microdialysis: sensitivity to (a) K+ depolarization, (b) Na+ channel blockade, (c) removal of extracellular Ca2+, and (d) depletion of presynaptic vesicles by local administration of alpha-latrotoxin. DA, Dyn B, and GABA largely satisfied all these criteria. In contrast, Glu and Asp levels were not greatly affected by K+ depolarization and were increased by perfusing with tetrodotoxin or with Ca2+-free medium, arguing against a neuronal origin. However, Glu and Asp, as well as DA and GABA, levels were decreased under both basal and K+-depolarizing conditions by alpha-latrotoxin. Because the effect of K+ depolarization on Glu and Asp could be masked by reuptake into nerve terminals and glial cells, the reuptake blocker dihydrokainic acid (DHKA) or L-trans-pyrrolidine-2,4-dicarboxylic acid (PDC) was included in the microdialysis perfusion medium. The effect of K+ depolarization on Glu and Asp levels was increased by DHKA, but GABA levels were also affected. In contrast, PDC increased only Glu levels. It is concluded that there is a pool of releasable Glu and Asp in the rat brain. However, extracellular levels of amino acids monitored by in vivo microdialysis reflect the balance between neuronal release and reuptake into surrounding nerve terminals and glial elements.