Contribution of the mGluR7 receptor to antiparkinsonian-like effects in rats: A behavioral study with the selective agonist AMN082

Background: metabotropic glutamate receptors (mglurs) have been shown to be potential targets for numerous neurological diseases,including parkinson's disease (pd).we previously reported that acpt-1,a non-selective group iii mglurs agonist,injected locally into the globus pallidus,striatum or substantia nigra pars reticulata (snr),significantly attenuated the haloperidol-induced catalepsy in rats. n,n'-dibenzhydryl-ethane-1,2-diamine dihydrochloride (amn082) is a potent,brain penetrating mglur7 agonist,selective over other mglurs. methods: the aim of the present study was to determine whether (1) activation of mglur7 by systemic administration of amn082 may produce antiparkinsonian-like effects in the haloperidol-induced catalepsy and reserpine-induced akinesia models in rats; (2) striatal and nigral mglur7 is likely to contribute to such an effect. results:we found that amn082 (1 and 3 mg/kg) decreased the haloperidol (0.25 mg/kg)-induced catalepsy,but was not efficient in attenuating the reserpine (2.5 mg/kg)-induced akinesia. when given locally,amn082 also significantly diminished catalepsy in rats; however,its effective striatal doses were 10-fold lower than those used in the snr (2.5 and 7.5 pmol/0.5 μl/ side vs. 25 and 75 pmol/0.5 μl/side,respectively). conclusion: the above findings support the idea that the activation of mglur7 can produce antiparkinsonian-like effects in rats. furthermore,our results indicate contribution of both striatal and nigral mglur7 to the anticataleptic effects of amn082.copyright © 2013 by institute of pharmacology polish academy of sciences.