Journal of Neuroscience, Vol 4, 1405-1413, Copyright © 1984 by Society for Neuroscience
Muscimol-scopolamine interactions in the rat brain: a study with 2- deoxy-D-[1-14C]glucose
P Helen and ED London
The 2-deoxy-D[1-14C]glucose method of Sokoloff was used to measure local
cerebral glucose utilization (LCGU) in rats after injections of the GABA
receptor agonist, muscimol (1.6 mg/kg and 4.0 mg/kg, i.v.); the muscarinic
receptor antagonist, scopolamine (0.4 mg/kg and 2.0 mg/kg, i.v.); or
combinations of both drugs. The aim was to identify brain regions where
functional effects of GABAergic-cholinergic interactions could be seen. As
noted previously, muscimol reduced LCGU in many brain regions. In contrast,
scopolamine alone had no effect on LCGU in most brain regions; however,
decreases were seen in the medial geniculate body, medial thalamic nucleus,
and auditory and frontal cortical areas. Scopolamine increased LCGU in the
cerebellar vermis and mesencephalic reticular formation. Although muscimol
alone did not significantly affect LCGU in the external plexiform layer of
the olfactory bulb or the anterior, periventricular, and parafascicular
thalamic nuclei, rats treated with 0.4 mg/kg of scopolamine before 4.0
mg/kg of muscimol had LCGU decrements in those brain regions. Furthermore,
the muscimol-induced decrease in LCGU in the medial cortex was enhanced by
prior treatment with 0.4 mg/kg of scopolamine. In contrast, in certain
brain regions where muscimol alone reduced LCGU (locus ceruleus; central
gray matter; striatum; ventral, medial, reunients , and rhomboid thalamic
nuclei; and the auditory cortex), scopolamine pretreatment antagonized
these decrements. These findings suggest that endogenous cholinergic and
GABAergic systems act antagonistically in some brain regions. However, in
other brain regions, cholinergic transmission is required for full
expression of GABAmimetic effects on LCGU.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)