Metabotropic glutamate receptor-mediated excitation and inhibition of sympathetic preganglionic neurones

The effects of metabotropic glutamate receptor (mGluR) subtype selective compounds on the excitability of sympathetic preganglionic neurones (SPNs) were investigated. Non-selective mGluR agonists (1S,3R)-aminocyclopentane-1,3-dicarboxylic acid and (2S,1'S,2'S)-2-(carboxycyclopropyl)glycine, induced dose-dependent depolarisations in 96 and 75% of SPNs, respectively and hyperpolarisations in 2 and 21% of SPNs. Both agonists could induce subthreshold membrane potential oscillations in previously non-oscillating SPNs and either increased or reduced the frequency of spontaneously occurring oscillations. A selective group I mGluR agonist, 3,5-dihydroxyphenylglycine, depolarised all SPNs tested, induced oscillations in membrane potential of otherwise non-oscillating SPNs and increased the frequency of spontaneous oscillations. Agonists with selectivity for group II mGluRs (1S,3S)-aminocyclopentane-1,3-dicarboxylic acid and (S)-4-carboxy-3-hydroxy-phenylglycine ((S)-4C3HPG) did not induce depolarising responses. However (S)-4C3HPG induced hyperpolarising responses associated with a reduction in the frequency of spontaneous oscillations in two of six SPNs tested. Depolarising and hyperpolarising responses were maintained in the presence of tetrodotoxin indicating a direct action of the agonists upon SPNs. In individual SPNs responses of opposite polarity could be induced from the same initial membrane potential using different agonists, indicating that the opposing responses involved different ionic mechanisms. The broad spectrum mGluR antagonist (S)-alpha-methyl-4-carboxyphenylglycine and the selective group I mGluR antagonist (S)-4-carboxyphenylglycine reversibly depressed mGluR agonist induced depolarisations. These results indicate that SPNs express two mGluR populations with opposing actions on neuronal excitability: group I mGluRs depolarise SPNs and can drive oscillatory membrane potential activity; a minority of SPNs express group II mGluRs which mediate membrane hyperpolarisations and reduce the frequency of membrane potential oscillations.