The role of NMDA and GABAA receptors in the inhibiting effect of 3Â MPa nitrogen on striatal dopamine level

Nitrogen pressure exposure, in rats, resulted in a decreased dopamine (DA) level by the striatal terminals of the substantia nigra pars compacta (SNc) dopaminergic neurons, due to the narcotic potency of nitrogen. In the SNc, the nigrostriatal pathway is under glutamatergic and GABAergic control mediated by ion-channel NMDA and GABAA receptors, main targets of volatile anesthetics. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of these receptors in the regulation of striatal dopamine level under nitrogen narcosis. Under general anesthesia, male Sprague-Dawley rats were bilaterally implanted in the striatum with dopamine-sensitive electrodes and, in the SNc, with guide cannulae for drug injections. After recovery from surgery, the striatal dopamine level was quantified using differential pulse voltammetric measurements in freely moving rats. Focal injections of agonists (NMDA/muscimol) and antagonists (AP7/gabazine) of NMDA/GABAA receptors were made within SNc. Both normobaric condition and 3 MPa nitrogen pressure were studied. Control experiments confirmed a direct glutamatergic control on the striatal DA level through NMDA receptors. Both direct and indirect GABAergic control through two different types of GABAA receptors located on GABAergic interneurons and on DA cells were indicated. Under nitrogen pressure, the decrease in dopamine level (20%) was suppressed by both NMDA and GABAA agonist infusion. There was an unexpected increasing DA level, induced by AP7 (about 10%) and gabazine (about 30%). These results indicate that NMDA receptors remain functional and suggest a decreased glutamate release. The findings also describe an increase of GABAA receptor-mediated inhibition on DA cells under nitrogen pressure exposure.