Antagonism of monosynaptic excitations in the mouse olfactory cortex slice by 6,7-dinitroquinoxaline-2,3-dione

The effects of 6,7-dinitroquinoxaline-2,3-dione (DNQX) have been tested in slices of olfactory cortex of the mouse against responses evoked by N-methyl-D-aspartate, kainate and quisqualate and on the surface field potentials evoked on electrical stimulation of the lateral olfactory tract. At a concentration of 5 microM, DNQX competitively antagonized responses evoked by kainate and quisqualate, with only a small reduction in the responses to N-methyl-D-aspartate. In contrast, DL-(+-)-2-amino-5-phosphonopentanoic acid (APP, 50 microM) selectively antagonized depolarizations to N-methyl-D-aspartate. The amplitude of the field potential known as the N-wave was reduced by DNQX in a concentration-dependent reversible manner (IC50 = 2.92 +/- 0.33 microM; mean +/- SE mean, n = 4). DL-(+-)-2-Amino-5-phosphonopentanoic acid (50 microM) did not significantly affect this action of DNQX. It is concluded that DNQX inhibits monosynaptic excitations in the olfactory cortex by selectively blocking kainate and/or quisqualate receptors, although it is unclear whether the receptors are located at pre- and/or postsynaptic sites.