Adenosine A1 Receptor Inhibition of Glutamate Exocytosis and Protein Kinase C‐Mediated Decoupling

Abstract

The adenosine modulation of glutamate exocytosis from guinea pig cerebrocortical synaptosomes is investigated. Endogenously leaked adenosine is sufficient to cause a partial tonic inhibition of 4-aminopyridine-evoked glutamate release, which can be relieved by adenosine deaminase. The adenosine A1 receptor is equally effective in mediating inhibition of glutamate exocytosis evoked by 4-aminopyridine (where K(+)-channel activation would inhibit release) and by elevated KCl (where K(+)-channel activation would have no effect), arguing for a central role of Ca(2+)-channel modulation. In support of this, the plateau phase of depolarization-evoked free Ca2+ elevation is decreased by adenosine with both depolarization protocols. No effect of adenosine agonists is seen on membrane potential in polarized or KCl- or 4-aminopyridine-stimulated synaptosomes. The interaction of protein kinase C with the A1 receptor-mediated inhibition is examined. Activation of protein kinase C by 4 beta-phorbol dibutyrate has been shown previously by this laboratory to modulate glutamate release via K(+)-channel inhibition, and is shown here to have an additional action of decoupling the adenosine inhibition of glutamate exocytosis.