Seroquel: biochemical profile of a potential atypical antipsychotic.

Seroquel and the atypical antipsychotic clozapine were compared using a number of biochemical measures in rats which are indicative of potential antipsychotic activity and possible extrapyramidal side effect liability. Both in vitro and in vivo, these compounds are low potency D-2 dopamine (DA) receptor antagonists and are relatively more potent 5-HT2 antagonists than typical antipsychotic drugs. Seroquel also exhibited low affinity for D-1 DA receptors in vitro, but D-1 receptor occupancy was not detectable in vivo. Unlike clozapine, Seroquel lacks appreciable activity at either D-1 DA or muscarinic receptors. Following IP administration, both compounds produce similar elevations in DA metabolite concentrations. Following 1 month of daily administration, at doses which produce large increases in striatal DA metabolite concentrations, both Seroquel and clozapine fail, unlike typical antipsychotics, to increase the number of striatal D-2 receptors, but do decrease the number of 5-HT2 receptors in frontal cortex. ICI 204,636 produces a short-lasting increase in plasma prolactin levels, but these increases are much greater than those that are produced by clozapine. One day after 3 weeks of daily administration, tolerance, to the ability of Seroquel to elevate DA metabolite and plasma PRL concentrations is not observed. These biochemical observations are discussed with regard to the atypical profile of Seroquel in behavioral and electrophysiological studies.

An antagonist/partial agonist at the polyamine recognition site of the N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor that alters the properties of the glutamate recognition site.

The effects of N-(3-aminopropyl)-1,10-diaminodecane (APDA10) on the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor/ion channel complex were investigated. In the presence of 100 microM glutamate and 100 microM glycine, APDA10 had biphasic effects on the binding of [3H](+)-5-methyl-10,11-dihydro-5H-dibenzo[a,d]cyclohepten5,10-imin e (MK-801) to NMDA receptors on well washed synaptic plasma membranes. The maximal stimulation of binding by APDA10 was less than that seen with spermine. In the presence of glutamate and glycine, APDA10 attenuated the stimulatory effect of spermine and the inhibitory effect of 1,10-diaminodecane. In the nominal absence of glutamate and glycine, APDA10 had no effect on the binding of [3H]MK-801, but antagonized the stimulatory effect of spermine on the binding of [3H] MK-801. These data suggest that APDA10 acts as a mixed antagonist/partial agonist at the polyamine recognition site, and that the partial agonist properties of APDA10 are dependent on the activation state of the receptor complex. An increase in the potency of the glutamate site antagonists D-2-amino-5-phosphonovaleric acid and 3-(2-carboxypiperazin-4-yl)-propyl-1-phosphonic acid for inhibiting the binding of [3H]MK-801 was seen in the presence of APDA10. APDA10 also increased the affinity of binding of [3H]3-(2-carboxypiperazin-4-yl)-propyl-1-phosphonic acid to the NMDA receptor complex but had no effect on the binding of [3H]glycine. These data suggest that the polyamine APDA10 may alter the properties of the glutamate recognition site on the NMDA receptor complex.

Clozapine and haloperidol have differential effects on glutamic acid decarboxylase mRNA in the pallidal nuclei of the rat.

The striatum, and one of its targets, the pallidum (globus pallidus and entopeduncular nucleus) are based ganglia nuclei involved in extrapyramidal movement control. Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)ergic neurons of the pallidum may be important for the expression of the effects of agents which alter striatal neurotransmission. In this study, rats were treated once daily for 28 days with either haloperidol or clozapine, two drugs which respectively, do and do not, induce extrapyramidal movement disorders. In situ hybridization histochemistry was used to quantify the levels of labeling for the messenger ribonucleic acid encoding glutamic acid decarboxylase, the main synthesizing enzyme for GABA in neurons of the striatum, globus pallidus, and entopeduncular nucleus. Neither drug treatment altered levels of labeling in the striatum. Haloperidol treatment increased the level of labeling in the entopeduncular nucleus and clozapine treatment increased labeling in the globus pallidus suggesting that these drugs exert different regulatory effects on pallidal neurons.

Quisqualate neurotoxicity in rat cortical cultures: pharmacology and mechanisms.

Quisqualate is a potent neurotoxin in cortical cultures of the rat. Unlike N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA), the toxicity of quisqualate is due to overstimulation of a membrane receptor after the agonist has been removed. This receptor appears to be the 2-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid (AMPA) receptor since 2,3-dihydroxy-6-nitro-7-sulfamoyl-benzo(F)quinoxaline (NBQX) and 6,7-dinitroquinoxaline-2,3-dione (DNQX) are potent antagonists when added to the post incubation media. NBQX and DNQX are ineffective when present only during quisqualate exposure, indicating the AMPA receptor is not involved in the initial event. Transfer of culture media 30 min after quisqualate exposure to either neuronal or non-neuronal cells was found to cause toxicity in previously untreated neuronal cells. This effect could not be reproduced with NMDA. The neurotoxic chain of events could be interrupted during quisqualate exposure by removal of sodium from the incubation media, suggesting the involvement of a sodium-dependent plasma membrane uptake mechanism. Quisqualate may be continually recycled by internalization and release, causing neurotoxicity by persistent stimulation of the AMPA receptor.

Immunological characterization of the region of tau protein that is bound to Alzheimer paired helical filaments.

Tau protein is known to be present in the paired helical filaments (PHFs) of Alzheimer brains. This study investigated the fragments of tau protein that remain bound to pronase-treated PHFs and conditions that lead to the release of these tau fragments from the core structure of the PHF. Antibody 423 reacted with PHFs and with fetal rat tau but not with adult rat tau, pig tau, or recombinant human tau. Three other antibodies that react with the tubulin binding region of tau only reacted with PHFs after they were disrupted with formic acid or guanidine. Other antibodies that recognize tau sequences C terminal to the tubulin binding region also recognized pronase-treated PHFs. Antibodies SMI34 and T3P that recognize phosphorylated epitopes were reactive with pronase-treated PHFs. Tau fragments from the PHF were solubilized by acid or guanidine treatment. These findings suggest that the fragments of tau that are bound to PHFs and protected from pronase digestion include sequences from the tubulin binding region to the C terminus of tau. In addition, some of these sequences appear to be conformationally or post-translationally modified.

Ibotenic acid mediates neurotoxicity and phosphoinositide hydrolysis by independent receptor mechanisms.

Ibotenic acid (Ibo) has been shown to have agonist activity at both the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) and trans-ACPD or metabolotropic quisqualate (Qm) receptor sites in several systems. Both of these receptor sites have been implicated in excitotoxicity. Like NMDA neurotoxicity, Ibo neurotoxicity can be enhanced by glycine and blocked by MK-801. Ibo induced stimulation of phosphoinositide (PI) hydrolysis, on the other hand, is unaffected by either of these treatments. We therefore conclude that Ibo is capable of acting at both NMDA and trans-ACPD receptors in the CNS, although only activation of NMDA receptors is involved in Ibo neurotoxicity. This conclusion leads us to postulate that stimulation of phosphoinositide hydrolysis is neither necessary nor sufficient for neurotoxicity.

Actions of neomycin on neuronal L-, N-, and non-L/non-N-type voltage-sensitive calcium channel responses.

The effects of neomycin on neuronal voltage-sensitive calcium channel (VSCC) responses were investigated by evaluating its effects on calcium-dependent neuronal responses that are sensitive and insensitive to the N-type voltage-sensitive calcium channel antagonist omega-conotoxin GVIA and the L-type VSCC antagonist nitrendipine. Chick synaptosomal 45Ca2+ influx and K(+)-evoked release of [3H]norepinephrine from chick cortical brain slices were omega-conotoxin GVIA sensitive and nitrendipine insensitive, suggesting that these responses are mediated predominantly by N-type VSCC. The K(+)-evoked increase of intracellular calcium in cortical neurons and the K(+)-evoked release of [3H]norepinephrine from rat brain cortical slices was partially sensitive to omega-conotoxin GVIA and nitrendipine, suggesting that these responses are mediated by N-, L- and non-L/non-N-type VSCC. Rat synaptosomal 45Ca2+ influx and the K(+)-evoked release of [3H]D-aspartate from rat hippocampal slices were completely insensitive to omega-conotoxin GVIA and nitrendipine, suggesting that these responses were mediated predominantly by non-L/non-N-type VSCC. Neomycin caused a concentration-dependent and virtually complete inhibition of all response parameters, with IC50 values ranging from 90 to 400 microM. The results suggest that neomycin is a nonselective inhibitor of neuronal responses mediated by L-, N-, and non-L/non-N-type VSCC.

Differences in the abilities of human tau isoforms to promote microtubule assembly.

Three isoforms of human tau protein were compared for their abilities to induce microtubule assembly. The three isoforms, tau 3 (tau containing three microtubule-binding domains), tau 4 (tau containing four microtubule-binding domains) and tau 4L (tau containing four microtubule binding domains plus a 58-amino-acid insert near the N-terminus) were expressed in E. coli and purified using ammonium sulfate precipitation, ion exchange, and size exclusion chromatography. All three isoforms induced microtubule assembly at micromolar concentrations and showed similar critical concentrations for assembly of 0.4-0.45 microM. However, tau 4 induced microtubule formation at a rate five- to tenfold faster than either tau 3 or tau 4L. The rate of microtubule elongation seen with tau 4 was twofold greater than with tau 3 or tau 4L, suggesting that the faster rate of microtubule assembly seen with tau 4 was due, at least in part, to faster elongation. Tau 4 induced a greater number of microtubules to form at steady state than did tau 3 or tau 4L. The microtubules generated with each tau isoform had similar steady-state length distributions and were equally susceptible to cold-induced disassembly. These results indicate that the additional microtubule-binding domain in tau 4 enhances microtubule assembly, while the 58-amino-acid insert negates the stimulatory effect of the fourth microtubule-binding domain.

Calcium mobilization and entry by thapsigargin in neuronal tumor cell line, SK-N-SH.

Using fura-2 loaded neural tumour cells, SK-N-SH, we demonstrate that receptor-mediated activation of phosphoinositide hydrolysis not only causes the release of Ca2+ from intracellular stores but also causes a concomitant influx of extracellular Ca2+. Thapsigargin (TG), a sesquiterpene lactone, causes a sustained elevation of intracellular Ca2+ and depletion of the inositol 1, 4, 5-trisphosphate-sensitive intracellular Ca2+ stores. In the absence of extracellular Ca2+, the increase in intracellular Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i) was transient, suggesting that thapsigargin activates both intracellular mobilization and the influx of Ca2+ from extracellular space. These results are consistent with the proposal that the depletion of the inositol 1, 4, 5-trisphosphate-sensitive intracellular Ca2+ pool serves as a signal for Ca2+ influx.

The inhibition of [125I]omega-conotoxin GVIA binding to neuronal membranes by neomycin may be mediated by a GTP-binding protein.

omega-Conotoxin GVIA (omega-CT) has been reported to block calcium currents at the L- and N-type calcium channels. In neuronal membranes omega-CT, and the aminoglycoside antibiotic neomycin, have been shown to inhibit [125I]omega-CT binding, presumably acting at the N-type calcium channel. We demonstrate here that the concentration curve for neomycin sulfate inhibition of [125I]omega-CT binding is shifted to the right by GTP analogues or fluoride, increasing the IC50 for neomycin. [125I]omega-CT binding is unaffected by these agents and in competition studies the potency of omega-CT, Ca2+, or La3+ is not modulated by GTP analogues or fluoride. These results indicate that the inhibition of [125I]omega-CT binding by neomycin may be mediated by a GTP binding protein.

Role of calcium in regulation of phosphoinositide signaling pathway.

Using primary neuronal cultures we have examined the role of extracellular Ca2+ in a receptor-regulated phosphoinositide turnover. We report that receptor (glutamic acid and acetylcholine)-activated phosphoinositide turnover requires the presence of extracellular Ca2+ (EC50 = 21.1 microM). The requirement for Ca2+ appears to be at an intracellular level and is highly selective for Ca2+. We also found that several inorganic and organic Ca2+ channel blockers, including La3+ and verapamil, inhibit phosphoinositide turnover. However, the pharmacological profile of these agents in this regard was distinct from their actions at the voltage-sensitive Ca2+ channels. To explain the above requirement for extracellular Ca2+ in agonist-stimulated phosphoinositide turnover and its sensitivity to Ca(2+)-channel blockers, we propose a hypothetical model suggesting that Ca2+, following IP-3-mediated mobilization, exerts a facilitatory action on the activity of receptor-phospholipase C complex. We further propose that in the absence of extracellular Ca2+ or in the presence of certain Ca(2+)-channel blockers, refilling of calciosomes is ineffectual or inhibited, causing its depletion and subsequent inactivation of agonist-stimulated phosphoinositide turnover.

Inhibition of K(+)-evoked [3H]D-aspartate release and neuronal calcium influx by verapamil, diltiazem and dextromethorphan: evidence for non-L/non-N voltage-sensitive calcium channels.

The effects of inhibitors of voltage-sensitive calcium channels (VSCC) on K(+)-evoked [3H]D-aspartate release from rat hippocampal slices and the K(+)-evoked increase in intracellular calcium in neocortical neurons in primary culture were examined. K+ caused a concentration-dependent release of [3H]D-aspartate that was approximately 85% dependent on the presence of extracellular calcium. Neither the marine snail toxin, omega-conotoxin GVIA, nor the dihydropyridine VSCC antagonist, nitrendipine, had any effect on K(+)-evoked release of [3H]D-aspartate. omega-Conotoxin GVIA and nitrendipine caused a relatively small (20-30%) inhibition of K(+)-evoked increase in intracellular calcium in neocortical neurons in primary culture. This suggests that K(+)-evoked [3H]D-aspartate release is not dependent on L- or N-type VSCC, whereas K(+)-evoked neuronal calcium influx was only partially dependent on L- and N-type VSCC. Verapamil, dextromethorphan and diltiazem caused a concentration-dependent inhibition of K(+)-evoked release of [3H]D-aspartate with IC50 values of 30, 100 and 120 microM, respectively. The K(+)-evoked increase in intracellular calcium was inhibited with essentially the same rank order of potency, but with slightly greater potencies (IC50 values for verapamil, diltiazem and dextromethorphan were 20, 50 and 50 microM, respectively). At 300 microM, neither verapamil, diltiazem nor dextromethorphan inhibited [3H]D-aspartate release evoked by the calcium ionophore ionomycin, suggesting that these compounds are not acting intracellularly to inhibit the ability of free cytosolic calcium to evoke release.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Stereoselective enhancement by (R)-HA-966 of the binding of [3H]CPP to the NMDA receptor complex.

The enantiomers of the strychnine-insensitive glycine antagonist, HA-966 (1-hydroxy-3-amino-pyrrolidone-2), stereoselectively enhance binding of the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) competitive antagonist, [3H]CPP (3-(2-carboxypiperazin-4-yl)propyl-1-phosphonic acid) to rat brain synaptosomal membranes. The enhancement by the more potent (R)-HA-966 is competitively inhibited by the glycine antagonist 7-chlorokynurenic acid and noncompetitively by the polyamine spermine. Thus, (R)-HA-966, apparently at the glycine site, enhances the binding of antagonist to the NMDA receptor, possibly through a mechanism partially in common with that of spermine.

The polyamine spermine affects omega-conotoxin binding and function at N-type voltage-sensitive calcium channels.

1. The effects of the polyamines, spermine and spermidine on neuronal N-type voltage-sensitive calcium channels were investigated using the binding and function of the ligand omega-conotoxin GVIA (omega-CT). 2. Spermine and spermidine enhanced (EC50 approximately 0.16 and 0.45 microM) and, at higher concentrations, inhibited (IC50 of 9 and 240 microM) the binding of [125I]omega-CT to rat hippocampal synaptosomes. 3. Spermine and, less potently, spermidine inhibited the neurotransmitter-mediated, omega-CT-sensitive, electrical-field-stimulated contractile responses of the rat vas deferens. 4. The polyamines also inhibited the phenylephrine-evoked contractile responses of the vas deferens with the same rank order, consistent with a postsynaptic mechanism of inhibition. 5. However, pre-exposure to spermine prevented the irreversible inhibition of vas deferens twitch responses by omega-CT (previously found to be presynaptic). The prevention of inhibition by omega-CT demonstrates that the neuronal binding of spermine and omega-CT is mutually exclusive. Thus spermine (and presumably spermidine at higher concentrations) appears to modulate the actions of omega-CT at N-type voltage-sensitive calcium channels.

6,7-Dinitroquinoxaline-2,3-dione blocks the cytotoxicity of N-methyl-D-aspartate and kainate, but not quisqualate, in cortical cultures.

Based on radioligand binding and electrophysiological studies, quinoxalinediones such as 6,7-dinitroquinoxaline-2,3-dione (DNQX) have been shown to be potent competitive antagonists at the quisqualate and kainate subtypes of the glutamate receptor. In this report we have examined the effects of DNQX on excitatory amino acid neurotoxicity and evoked neurotransmitter release. DNQX was found to be a potent neuroprotective agent against glutamate and N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) neurotoxicity. The data suggest that this neuroprotective activity of DNQX is due to its antagonism of the coagonist activity of glycine at the NMDA receptor-channel complex. The specificity of DNQX for the glycine site associated with the NMDA receptor-channel complex was confirmed in radioligand binding and neurotransmitter release studies. DNQX also prevented kainate neurotoxicity and kainate-evoked neurotransmitter release, presumably by direct competition for the kainate receptor. DNQX, however, did not prevent quisqualate neurotoxicity, suggesting that a novel quisqualate-preferring receptor insensitive to DNQX may mediate quisqualate toxicity.

Neomycin and omega-conotoxin GVIA interact at a common neuronal site in peripheral tissues.

1. The present study examined the interaction of omega-conotoxin GVIA (omega-CT) and aminoglycoside antibiotics on electrically evoked, nerve-mediated contractile responses in the rat vas deferens, guinea-pig ileum and guinea-pig left atria. 2. omega-CT caused a time- and concentration-dependent inhibition of the electrically evoked twitch responses of the rat vas deferens and guinea-pig ileum. Aminoglycoside antibiotics inhibited the twitch responses of these preparations with a rank order of potency: neomycin greater than gentamycin greater than kanamycin. omega-CT had no effect on the postjunctional contractile responses of either noradrenaline (vas deferens) or carbachol (ileum). However, at high concentrations neomycin and gentamycin caused significant postjunctional inhibition. The results suggest that omega-CT and aminoglycosides cause prejunctional inhibition in these preparations, with the aminoglycoside antibiotics exhibiting postjunctional inhibitory effects as well at high concentrations. 3. omega-CT caused a concentration- and frequency-dependent inhibition of the neuronally mediated field stimulation enhancement of electrically paced guinea-pig left atria. omega-CT had no effect on either the electrically paced contractile response that was elicited by direct muscle stimulation or the enhancement of the paced response caused by beta-adrenoceptor agonist stimulation. Neomycin caused a concentration-dependent inhibition of the electrically paced contractile response and inhibited the field stimulation response only at concentrations which caused pronounced inhibition of the paced response. Neomycin also caused insurmountable inhibition of responses elicited by beta-adrenoceptor agonist stimulation. Thus, omega-CT caused an exclusive prejunctional inhibition in guinea-pig left atria, whereas the substantial postjunctional effects of neomycin made it difficult to discern any prejunctional activity of neomycin in these experiments. 4. In the vas deferens, ileum and atria the inhibitory effects of omega-CT were long-lasting, whereas the effects of neomycin could be reversed upon wash-out. The disparate kinetics of omega-CT and neomycin allowed for the design of receptor protection studies to determine whether neomycin acts at a prejunctional site in common with omega-CT. The pre-equilibration of a competitive antagonist (neomycin) should prevent the irreversible antagonist (omega-CT) from gaining access to receptors. Pre-exposure of tissues with neomycin prevented the irreversible inhibition of omega-CT. These receptor protection studies suggest that omega-CT and neomycin interact at common neuronal sites in the rat vas deferens, guinea-pig ileum and guinea-pig atria. Neomycin, however, exhibits activity at postjunctional sites as well.

5-HT2 receptor blockade by ICI 169,369 and other 5-HT2 antagonists modulates the effects of D-2 dopamine receptor blockade.

The effects of D-2 dopamine (DA) receptor blockade were modulated by ICI 169,369, a selective 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT)2 receptor antagonist, and by other 5-HT2 antagonists. Specifically, it appears that blockade of 5-HT2 receptors can attenuate the effects of D-2 receptor blockade on rat striatal dopaminergic transmission. Thus, the blockade of D-2 receptors by haloperidol results in a compensatory increase in rat striatal DA metabolism, which is enhanced by ICI 169,369. By itself, ICI 169,369 did not significantly alter DA metabolism. Conversely, several compounds which possess appreciable activity at 5-HT2 sites in ex vivo binding assays, but possess little activity at D-2 sites (i.e., pirenperone, setoperone, fluperlapine and clozapine), all produced large increases in striatal DA metabolism. Therefore, these data suggest that the 5-HT2 component of these compounds, by enhancing DA metabolism, may act to attenuate the blockade of striatal D-2 receptors by these compounds. Consistent with this hypothesis, the chronic blockade of D-2 receptors by haloperidol increases the number of striatal D-2 DA receptors, and these increases are attenuated by the coadministration of ICI 169,369. Likewise, pirenperone and clozapine, at doses which acutely produced elevations in DA metabolism which were similar to those produced by haloperidol, failed to increase the number of D-2 receptors in striatum. Interestingly, 5-HT2 receptor blockade did not appear to potently modulate the effects of D-2 receptor blockade in the olfactory tubercle, a brain region which is innervated by mesolimbic DA-containing neurons.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Characterization of the quisqualate receptor linked to phosphoinositide hydrolysis in neurocortical cultures.

Activation of phosphoinositide metabolism is an early event in signal transduction for a number of neurotransmitters and hormones. In primary cultures of rat neurocortical cells, various excitatory amino acids stimulate inositol phosphate production with a rank order of potency of quisqualate greater than ibotenate greater than glutamate greater than kainate, N-methyl-D-aspartate greater than alpha-amino-3-hydroxyl-5-methyl-4-isoxazole propionate. This response to excitatory amino acids was insensitive to a variety of excitatory amino acid antagonists including 6-cyano-7-nitroquinoxaline-2,3-dione, 3-3(2-carboxypiperazine-4-yl)propyl-1-phosphonate, and 2-amino-4-phosphonobutyrate. The individual responses of quisqualate-, ibotenate-, and kainate-stimulated inositol phosphate production were not additive. These results suggest that phosphoinositide metabolism activated by excitatory amino acids is mediated by a unique quisqualate-preferring receptor that is not antagonized by known N-methyl-D-aspartate and non-N-methyl-D-aspartate antagonists, and is relatively insensitive to alpha-amino-3-hydroxyl-5-methyl-4-isoxazole propionate.

Glycine-evoked neurotransmitter release from rat hippocampal brain slices: evidence for the involvement of glutaminergic transmission.

Glycine caused a concentration-dependent evoked release of [3H]norepinephrine from rat hippocampal brain slices. Other amino acids evoked [3H]norepinephrine release with a rank order of potency: L-serine greater than or equal to glycine greater than beta-alanine greater than D-serine. Strychnine inhibited [3H]norepinephrine release evoked by both glycine and L-serine, but was less effective in inhibiting the release evoked by N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) and kainic acid. Inhibitors of the NMDA receptor/ionophore complex, MK-801, CPP and Mg++, as well as the strychnine-insensitive glycine receptor antagonist, HA-966, caused an incomplete inhibition (maximum approximately 60%) of glycine-evoked [3H]norepinephrine release. The potencies with which MK-801, CPP and Mg++ inhibited glycine- and NMDA-evoked [3H]norepinephrine release were very similar. The combination of MK-801 plus kynurenic acid, a nonselective glutamate receptor antagonist, caused no greater inhibition of glycine-evoked release than MK-801, alone. omega-Conotoxin GVIA, an inhibitor of neuronal L- and N-type voltage-sensitive calcium channels, inhibited glycine-evoked [3H]norepinephrine release by approximately 50%, whereas the L-channel inhibitor PN 200-110 had no significant effect. The combination of MK-801 plus omega-conotoxin GVIA caused only a slightly greater inhibition (P greater than .05) of glycine-evoked release than MK-801 alone. Tetrodotoxin inhibited glycine-evoked release of [3H]norepinephrine by approximately 75%. The inhibitory effects of tetrodotoxin and omega-conotoxin GVIA suggest that voltage-sensitive sodium channels and N-type voltage-sensitive calcium channels are important mediators of glycine-evoked release of [3H]norepinephrine.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)