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Updated: Jul 14, 2026

A Rapid and Specific Microplate Assay for the Determination of Intra- and Extracellular Ascorbate in Cultured Cells
Published on: April 11, 2014
Extracellular ascorbate modulates glutamate dynamics: role of behavioral activation
Michael I Sandstrom1, George V Rebec
1Central Michigan University, Psychology Department, Mount Pleasant, MI, USA. sands1m@cmich.edu <sands1m@cmich.edu>
Elevated ascorbate (AA) increases striatal glutamate (GLU) release, but this effect is modulated by behavioral arousal. The study found that environmental light conditions significantly influenced the relationship between AA levels and GLU efflux in rats.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Neurochemistry
- Behavioral Neuroscience
Background:
- Ascorbate (AA), an antioxidant, physiologically increases extracellular glutamate (GLU) in the striatum.
- Behavioral arousal may play a role in the interaction between ascorbate and glutamate.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of behavioral arousal in ascorbate-induced glutamate release.
- To determine how environmental light conditions affect striatal glutamate efflux.
Main Methods:
- Microdialysis was used to measure striatal GLU efflux in rats.
- Rats were tested under lights-off and lights-on conditions.
- Reverse dialysis was employed to maintain or increase extracellular ascorbate concentrations.
Main Results:
- In darkness, locomotion and GLU increased irrespective of ascorbate dose.
- In light, behaviorally inactive rats showed increased GLU with 1000 microM AA, but not 250 microM AA.
- Light returning to dark-housed rats prolonged the GLU increase at 1000 microM AA.
Conclusions:
- Elevated striatal ascorbate increases extracellular glutamate release.
- The effect of ascorbate on glutamate is dependent on the animal's behavioral state.
- Endogenous glutamate release levels interact with ascorbate's influence.
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