Facilitation of morphine withdrawal symptoms and morphine-induced conditioned place preference by a glutamate transporter inhibitor DL-threo-beta-benzyloxyaspartate in rats

There is a body of evidence implying the involvement of the central glutamatergic system in morphine dependence. In this study, we examined the effect of intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) administration of a potent glutamate transporter inhibitor, DL-threo-beta-benzyloxyaspartate (DL-TBOA), on acute morphine-induced antinociception, expression of somatic and negative affective components of morphine withdrawal, and acquisition of morphine-induced conditioned place preference in rats. I.c.v administration of DL-TBOA (10 nmol) to naive rats did not affect the acute antinociceptive effect of morphine. I.c.v. administration of DL-TBOA (10 nmol) to morphine-dependent rats significantly facilitated the expression of naloxone-precipitated somatic signs and conditioned place aversion. DL-TBOA (3 and 10 nmol) significantly facilitated acquisition of morphine-induced conditioned place preference. DL-TBOA itself produced neither conditioned place aversion nor place preference in naive rats. These results suggest that central glutamate transporters play inhibitory roles in the expression of somatic and negative affective components of morphine withdrawal and the reinforcing effect of morphine.     

Agmatine modulates neuroadaptations of glutamate transmission in the nucleus accumbens of repeated morphine-treated rats

It has been proved that agmatine inhibits opioid dependence, yet the neural mechanism remains unclear. In the present study, the effect of agmatine on the neuroadaptation of glutamate neurotransmission induced by morphine dependence, including changes of the extracellular glutamate level and glutamate receptors in the nucleus accumbens was investigated.We found that agmatine (2.5–20 mg/kg, s.c.) inhibited development of morphine dependence, which was consistent with our previous report. In rats repeatedly treated with morphine, the glutamate level in the nucleus accumbens dialysate was markedly increased after naloxone-precipitated withdrawal. When agmatine (20 mg/kg, s.c.) was co-pretreated with morphine or was applied before naloxone-precipitated withdrawal, this elevation of the extracellular glutamate level was inhibited. In the synaptosome model, repeated morphine treatment and naloxone precipitation induced an increase in glutamate release, while agmatine (20 mg/kg, s.c.) co-pretreated with morphine reversed the increase of glutamate release. However, neither morphine or agmatine treatment alone nor morphine and agmatine co-administration had any influence on [3H]-glutamate uptake. It indicated that the elevation of the glutamate level in the nucleus accumbens might be caused by the increase of glutamate release of synaptosome in the withdrawal conditions of morphine-dependent rat. Furthermore, agmatine concomitant treatment with morphine entirely abolished the up-regulation of the NR1 subunit of N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptors in the nucleus accumbens in repeated morphine-treated rats.Taken together, the present study demonstrated that agmatine could modulate the neuroadaptations of glutamate transmission in the nucleus accumbens in the case of morphine dependence, including modulating extracellular glutamate concentration and NMDA receptor expression.     

Involvement of glutamate receptors within the central nucleus of the amygdala in naloxone-precipitated morphine withdrawal-induced conditioned place aversion in rats

Chronic use of morphine leads to physical and psychological dependence. The amygdala is known to be involved in the expression of emotion such as anxiety and fear, and several studies have shown that the central nucleus of the amygdala (CeA) is involved in morphine dependence. In the present study, we investigated the role of glutamate receptors within the CeA in the negative affective component of morphine abstinence by evaluating naloxone-precipitated withdrawal-induced conditioned place aversion (CPA) in morphine-dependent rats. We found that microinjection of the AMPA/kainate-glutamate-receptor antagonist CNQX (30 nmol/side) into the bilateral CeA significantly attenuated the naloxone-precipitated withdrawal-induced CPA, as well as several somatic signs, in morphine-dependent rats, without preference or aversive effects by itself in non-dependent rats. Furthermore, microinjection of the non-competitive NMDA-receptor antagonist MK-801 (30 nmol/side) or competitive NMDA-receptor antagonist D-CPPene (0.01 and 0.1 nmol/side) into the CeA significantly attenuated the naloxone-precipitated morphine withdrawal-induced CPA, but not somatic withdrawal signs. These results suggest that the activation of AMPA /kainate and NMDA receptors within the CeA play a crucial role in the negative affective component of morphine abstinence.     

Involvement of the amygdala on place aversion induced by naloxone in single-dose morphine-treated rats

Signs characteristic of opiate withdrawal symptoms can be precipitated by an opiate antagonist after short-term infusion or even a single dose of an opiate both in humans and in animals. This phenomenon has been referred to as acute dependence. In contrast to extensive studies on chronic dependence, less is known about the neural mechanisms mediating acute dependence. It will benefit the development of appropriate therapies to facilitate opiate abstinence and reduced craving to better understand the mechanisms underlying acute opiate dependence and to determine whether there are dissociation and similarity between the early and fully developed stages of dependence. In the present study, we examined the influence of c-Fos expression in the amygdala in acquisition of conditioned place aversion (CPA) induced by naloxone-precipitated withdrawal from a single morphine exposure 24 h earlier. The effect of microinjection into the central amygdaloid nucleus (CeA) of various kinds of glutamatergic neurotransmission inhibitors was also investigated. Findings showed that CeA displayed significant increase in c-Fos expression in the acquisition of CPA. Furthermore, CPA was attenuated significantly and dose-dependently by microinjection into CeA of all glutamatergic neurotransmission inhibitors (NMDA receptor antagonist (+)-5-methyl-10,11-dihydro-5H-dibenzo[a,d]cyclo-hepten-5,10-imine maleate (MK-801), AMPA receptor antagonist 1-(4-aminophenyl)4-methyl-7,8-methylenedioxy-5H-2,3-benzodiazepine hydrochloride (GYKI52466), metabotropic glutamate receptor antagonist (+/-)-alpha-methyl-4-carboxyphenylglycine (MCPG), and glutamate release inhibitor riluzole). These findings suggest that CeA involves the acquisition of CPA induced by naloxone-precipitated withdrawal from a single morphine exposure, and the function of the glutamatergic system projected from the amygdala to nucleus accumbens plays a facilitative role in formation of morphine dependence.     

Opiate physical dependence and N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors

The present review focused the involvement of N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors in morphine physical dependence. The increased levels of extracellular glutamate, NMDA receptor zeta subunit (NR1) mRNA, NMDA receptor epsilon 1 subunit (NR2A) protein, phosphorylated Ca(2+)/calmodulin kinase II (p-CaMKII) protein, c-fos mRNA, c-Fos protein, are observed in the specific brain areas of mice and/or rats showing signs of naloxone-precipitated withdrawal. In preclinical and clinical studies, a variety of NMDA receptor antagonists and pretreatment with an antisense oligonucleotide of the NR1 have been reported to inhibit the development, expression and/or maintenance of opiate physical dependence. In contrast to data obtained in adult animals, NMDA receptor antagonists are neither effective in blocking the development of opiate dependence nor the expression of opiate withdrawal in neonatal rats. In the NMDA receptor-deficient mice, the NR2A knockout mice show the marked loss of typical withdrawal abstinence behaviors precipitated by naloxone. The rescue of NR2A protein by electroporation into the nucleus accumbens of NR2A knockout mice reverses the loss of abstinence behaviors. The activation of CaMKII and increased expression of c-Fos protein in the brain of animals with naloxone-precipitated withdrawal syndrome are prevented by NMDA receptor antagonists, whereas the increased levels of extracellular glutamate are not prevented by them. These findings indicate that glutamatergic neurotransmission at the NMDA receptor site contributes to the development, expression and maintenance of opiate dependence, and suggest that NMDA receptor antagonists may be a useful adjunct in the treatment of opiate dependence.     

Matricaria chamomilla extract inhibits both development of morphine dependence and expression of abstinence syndrome in rats

The effect of Matricaria chamomilla (M. chamomilla) on the development of morphine dependence and expression of abstinence was investigated in rats. The frequencies of withdrawal behavioral signs (paw tremor, rearing, teeth chattering, body shakes, ptosis, diarrhea, and urination) and weight loss induced by naloxone challenge were demonstrated in morphine-dependent rats receiving M. chamomilla extract or saline. The withdrawal behavioral manifestations and weight loss were inhibited significantly by chronic co-administration of M. chamomilla extract with morphine. Administration of a single dose of M. chamomilla before the naloxone challenge in morphine-dependent animals abolished the withdrawal behavioral manifestations. The dramatic increase of plasma cAMP induced by naloxone-precipitated abstinence was prevented by chronic co-administration of M. chamomilla extract with morphine. These results suggest that M. chamomilla extract inhibits the development of morphine dependence and expression of abstinence syndrome.     

Gastric secretion and mucosal lesions in morphine-dependent rats

The gastric mucosa and basal gastric secretion of morphine-dependent rats with pyloric occlusion were examined. Morphine tolerance and dependence were induced by administering increasing concentrations of morphine sulphate in the drinking water for 3 weeks, and were confirmed by a decreased analgesic response to morphine in the tail-immersion test and by occurrence of a naloxone-precipitated withdrawal syndrome, respectively. It was found that although the basal gastric secretion of morphine-dependent rats was not significantly different from that of naive animals, the former group showed a significantly higher gastric glandular mucosal ulcer index. Intraperitoneal injection of naloxone induced significant withdrawal effects but did not produce significant changes in gastric secretion or in ulcer index.     

Rapamycin prevents the mutant huntingtin-suppressed GLT-1 expression in cultured astrocytes

Aim:

To investigate the effects of rapamycin on glutamate uptake in cultured rat astrocytes expressing N-terminal 552 residues of mutant huntingtin (Htt-552).

Methods:

Methods: Primary astrocyte cultures were prepared from the cortex of postnatal rat pups. An astrocytes model of Huntington''s disease was established using the astrocytes infected with adenovirus carrying coden gene of N-terminal 552 residues of Huntingtin. The protein levels of glutamate transporters GLT-1 and GLAST, the autophagic marker microtubule-associated protein 1A/1B-light chain 3 (LC3) and the autophagy substrate p62 in the astrocytes were examined using Western blotting. The mRNA expression levels of GLT-1 and GLAST in the astrocytes were determined using Real-time PCR. ³H]glutamate uptake by the astrocytes was measured with liquid scintillation counting.

Results:

The expression of mutant Htt-552 in the astrocytes significantly decreased both the mRNA and protein levels of GLT-1 but not those of GLAST. Furthermore, Htt-552 significantly reduced ³H]glutamate uptake by the astrocytes. Treatment with the autophagy inhibitor 3-MA (10 mmol/L) significantly increased the accumulation of mutant Htt-552, and reduced the expression of GLT-1 and ³H]glutamate uptake in the astrocytes. Treatment with the autophagy stimulator rapamycin (0.2 mg/mL) significantly reduced the accumulation of mutant Htt-552, and reversed the changes in GLT-1 expression and ³H]glutamate uptake in the astrocytes.

Conclusion:

Rapamcin, an autophagy stimulator, can prevent the suppression of GLT-1 expression and glutamate uptake by mutant Htt-552 in cultured astrocytes.     

Down-regulation of the glial glutamate transporter GLT-1 in rat hippocampus and striatum and its modulation by a group III metabotropic glutamate receptor antagonist following transient global forebrain ischemia

Our goals were to identify biochemical markers for transient global ischemia-induced delayed neuronal death and test possible drug therapies against this neuronal damage. Four-vessel occlusion (4-VO) for 20 min was used as a rat model. The temporal expression profiles of three glutamate transporters (GLT-1, GLAST and EAAC1) were evaluated in the CA1 region of the hippocampus and the striatum. The protein levels of the GLT-1 were significantly down-regulated between 3 and 6 h after ischemia-reperfusion in the CA1 region and striatum, returned to the control (2-VO) levels 24 h after reperfusion and remained unchanged for up to 7 days. The levels of GLAST in the CA1 region and striatum, and EAAC1 in the CA1 region did not change after ischemia from 1 h to 7 days. Pretreatment with group III metabotropic glutamate receptor antagonist s-alpha-MCPA (20 microg/5 microl) 30 min prior to 4-VO significantly restored the GLT-1 levels in the CA1 region caused by global ischemia at both 3 and 6 h after reperfusion. The loss of pyramidal neurons in the CA1 region due to ischemia-reperfusion could also be prevented by intraventricular pretreatment with s-alpha-MCPA. The current findings pinpoint the significance of GLT-1 during ischemia/reperfusion and suggest a potential application of group III metabotropic glutamate receptor antagonist against ischemic/hypoxic neuronal damage.     

Opiate physical dependence and N-methyl-d-aspartate receptors

The present review focused the involvement of N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptors in morphine physical dependence. The increased levels of extracellular glutamate, NMDA receptor ζ subunit (NR1) mRNA, NMDA receptor 1 subunit (NR2A) protein, phosphorylated Ca²⁺/calmodulin kinase II (p-CaMKII) protein, c-fos mRNA, c-Fos protein, are observed in the specific brain areas of mice and/or rats showing signs of naloxone-precipitated withdrawal. In preclinical and clinical studies, a variety of NMDA receptor antagonists and pretreatment with an antisense oligonucleotide of the NR1 have been reported to inhibit the development, expression and/or maintenance of opiate physical dependence. In contrast to data obtained in adult animals, NMDA receptor antagonists are neither effective in blocking the development of opiate dependence nor the expression of opiate withdrawal in neonatal rats. In the NMDA receptor-deficient mice, the NR2A knockout mice show the marked loss of typical withdrawal abstinence behaviors precipitated by naloxone. The rescue of NR2A protein by electroporation into the nucleus accumbens of NR2A knockout mice reverses the loss of abstinence behaviors. The activation of CaMKII and increased expression of c-Fos protein in the brain of animals with naloxone-precipitated withdrawal syndrome are prevented by NMDA receptor antagonists, whereas the increased levels of extracellular glutamate are not prevented by them. These findings indicate that glutamatergic neurotransmission at the NMDA receptor site contributes to the development, expression and maintenance of opiate dependence, and suggest that NMDA receptor antagonists may be a useful adjunct in the treatment of opiate dependence.     

Modification of the expression of naloxone-precipitated withdrawal signs in morphine-dependent mice by diabetes: possible involvement of protein kinase C

The involvement of cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA) and protein kinase C (PKC) in the modulation of naloxone-precipitated withdrawal jumping in morphine-dependent mice by diabetes was examined. Naloxone-precipitated withdrawal jumps were significantly less in morphine-dependent diabetic mice than in morphine-dependent non-diabetic mice. I.c.v. pretreatment with either calphostin C, a PKC inhibitor, or KT-5720, a PKA inhibitor, attenuated naloxone-precipitated withdrawal jumps in morphine-dependent non-diabetic mice. However, naloxone-precipitated withdrawal jumps in morphine-dependent diabetic mice were not attenuated by i.c.v. pretreatment with either calphostin C or KT5720. Moreover, i.c.v. pretreatment with phorbol-12,13-dibutyrate (PDBu), a PKC activator, attenuated naloxone-precipitated withdrawal jumps in morphine-dependent non-diabetic mice, but not in morphine-dependent diabetic mice. The noradrenaline (NA) turnover in the frontal cortex in morphine-dependent non-diabetic mice, but not in morphine-dependent diabetic mice, was significantly increased 5 min after administration of naloxone. Naloxone-induced enhancement of NA turnover in morphine-dependent non-diabetic mice, but not in morphine-dependent diabetic mice, was blocked by i.c.v. pretreatment with either calphostin C or KT5720 1 hr before naloxone challenge and blocked by PDBu 1 hr before the last injection of morphine. These results suggest that the co-activation of PKC and PKA is needed to elicit naloxone-precipitated withdrawal jumps and enhancement of turnover rate of NA in the frontal cortex in morphine-dependent non-diabetic mice. Furthermore, the attenuation of naloxone-precipitated withdrawal jumps in morphine-dependent diabetic mice may be due, in part, to the desensitization of mu-opioid receptors by the activation of PKC.     

Effect of pretreatment with pertussis toxin on the development of physical dependence on morphine

Summary The effect of intracerebroventricular (i.cv.) pretreatment with pertussis toxin (PTX) on the development of physical dependence on morphine was investigated in mice. Twenty four hours after PTX (0.5 g, i.c.v.) or vehicle pretreatment, the mice were chronically treated with morphine (8–45 mg/kg, s.c.) for 5 days. Several withdrawal signs were observed following naloxone challenge in morphine-dependent mice which had been pretreated with vehicle. In addition, 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenylethyleneglycol (MHPG) and noradrenaline (NA) turnover (MHPG/NA) levels in the cerebral cortex were increased following naloxone challenge in morphine-dependent mice. These findings indicate that activation of the central noradrenergic system may mediate the expression of some withdrawal signs. In contrast, pretreatment with PTX attenuated the naloxone-precipitated withdrawal signs in morphine-dependent mice. The incidence of withdrawal signs such as jumping, wet dog shakes, and rearing was significantly reduced by PTX pretreatment. PTX pretreatment also prevented the naloxone-precipitated increases in MHPG concentration and NA ratio (MHPG/NA) in the cerebral cortex, suggesting that central PTX-sensitive GTP-binding proteins (G-proteins) may be involved in the elevation of NA transmission in the cortex which projects from the locus coeruleus (LC) during morphine withdrawal.The blocking effects of PTX on the behavioral and biochemical changes after withdrawal suggest that central PTX-sensitive G-proteins (Gi/Go) may play an important role in the development of physical dependence on morphine.Correspondence to: Tsutomu Suzuki at the above address     

Manganese inhalation by rhesus monkeys is associated with brain regional changes in biomarkers of neurotoxicity.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate biochemical markers of neurotoxicity following subchronic manganese sulfate (MnSO(4)) inhalation. Juvenile rhesus monkeys were exposed to MnSO(4) at 0, 0.06, 0.3, or 1.5 mg Mn/m(3) for 65 days. Glutamine synthetase (GS), glutamate transporters (glutamate transporter-1 [GLT-1] and glutamate/aspartate transporter [GLAST]) and tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) protein levels, metallothionein (MT), GLT-1, GLAST, TH and GS mRNA levels, and total glutathione (GSH) levels were assessed in known targets (caudate, globus pallidus, putamen) as well as the cerebellum, frontal cortex, and olfactory cortex. All MnSO(4)-exposed monkeys had decreased pallidal GS protein, decreased caudate GLT-1 mRNA, decreased pallidal GLAST protein, and increased olfactory cortical TH mRNA levels. Monkeys exposed to MnSO(4) at 0.06 or 0.3 mg Mn/m(3) had significantly increased pallidal mRNA levels for GLT-1, GLAST, and TH. Monkeys exposed to MnSO(4) at > or = 0.3 mg Mn/m(3) had several alterations including decreased frontal cortical MT mRNA, decreased caudate, globus pallidus, olfactory cortex, and cerebellum GLT-1 protein, decreased olfactory cortex and cerebellum GLAST protein, increased cerebellar GLAST mRNA, and decreased pallidal TH protein levels. Lastly, GSH levels were significantly increased in the frontal cortex and decreased in the caudate of monkeys exposed to the 1.5-mg Mn/m(3) compared to the controls. Overall, as in our previous studies, we observed that increased Mn concentrations due to airborne Mn exposure differentially affects biomarkers in each brain region (e.g., GSH was increased in the frontal cortex and decreased in the caudate despite two- to threefold increases in Mn concentrations in these regions).     

Differential effects of calcium channel blockers and stimulants on morphine withdrawal in vitro

The effects of calcium channel blockers and stimulants on naloxone-precipitated morphine withdrawal in morphine-dependent ileum were evaluated in vitro. Both verapamil and diltiazem (0.01-1 microM) inhibited the naloxone-induced morphine withdrawal contractures in a concentration-dependent way. The effect of diltiazem was stereo-specific. On the other hand, the calcium channel stimulant, Bay k 8644 (0.01 microM), significantly increased the naloxone-induced contractures of morphine-dependent ileum. These results suggest a role for calcium channels in morphine withdrawal in vitro.     

青藤碱对吗啡依赖小鼠、大鼠及豚鼠离体回肠催促戒断反应的影响

目的 :研究青藤碱 (sinomenine ,SIN)对吗啡依赖小鼠、大鼠及豚鼠离体回肠催促戒断反应的抑制作用。方法 :连续递增sc吗啡 (morphine ,Mor) ,建立大鼠、小鼠及豚鼠吗啡身体依赖性模型 ;纳洛酮 (naloxone,Nal)催促诱发吗啡身体依赖性豚鼠离体回肠的戒断性收缩。结果 :(1)SIN 14.3 - 143mg·kg- 1 显著抑制纳洛酮催促后 3 0min内小鼠的跳台次数 ;(2 )SIN 10 0mg·kg- 1 降低纳洛酮催促后 1h内大鼠的戒断症状分值及抑制体重下降 ;(3 )SIN(1.5×10 - 4 - 6.0× 10 - 4 mol·L- 1 )剂量依赖性地抑制纳洛酮催促诱发的吗啡身体依赖性豚鼠离体回肠的戒断性收缩 ;(4)吗啡身体依赖性豚鼠ipSIN(87.0和 8.7mg·kg- 1 )后 ,其离体回肠经纳洛酮催促诱发的戒断性收缩幅值显著降低。结论 :SIN对吗啡身体依赖性大鼠、小鼠的戒断症状及豚鼠离体回肠的戒断性收缩具有抑制作用     

Characteristics of precipitated withdrawal from spinal morphine: changes in [Met5]enkephalin levels.

This investigation was carried out to study the development of physical dependence on spinally administered morphine, and it was determined if this phenomenon is associated with altered levels of [Met5]enkephalin. Morphine was infused continuously into the intrathecal space of rats for three or six days. In morphine-dependent animals, an intrathecal naloxone challenge produced increased reaction to nociceptive stimuli, hypertension, hyperthermia, decreased urinary output, and loss of body weight. Chronic spinal infusion of morphine alone failed to alter levels of [Met5]enkephalin in sacral and lumbar spinal cord. However, 24 h after the naloxone challenge, there was a significant increase in spinal enkephalin levels in morphine-dependent animals. It is concluded that spinal morphine treatment leads to the development of physical dependence. Certain characteristics of this phenomenon, as reflected in the naloxone-precipitated withdrawal signs, differ from those associated with dependence on systemic morphine.     

Adaptive changes in M1 muscarinic receptors localized to specific rostral brain regions during and after morphine withdrawal

Morphine-dependent rats were allowed to undergo withdrawal by abrupt discontinuation of the drug. The regional expression of brain M1 muscarinic receptors was measured directly by autoradiographic determination with [(3)H] pirenzepine, and indirectly by quantifying the relative levels of M1 mRNA encoding the receptor protein. Patterns of receptor changes after morphine treatment were in general agreement using the two methods. Frontal cortical samples derived from morphine-dependent rats exhibited a 28% increase in M1 receptor mRNA measured at the end of the infusion. At the peak of the withdrawal, M1 mRNA levels for dependent rats were much lower (33.4%) than those for control rats. Hippocampal samples derived from morphine-dependent rats exhibited no changes in M1 mRNA levels after the morphine infusion. During the peak of withdrawal, however, hippocampal M1 mRNA levels were reduced (57%) compared with levels for controls. The M1 mRNA levels remained at this reduced degree of expression even after withdrawal symptoms had subsided. Addition of diisopropylflurophophate (DFP) to the morphine infusion schedule inhibited the adaptive changes in M1 mRNA levels induced by morphine. During the peak period of withdrawal, M1 mRNA levels in the hippocampus declined by only 18% as compared with 57% for the morphine control group. The adaptive decrease in hippocampal M1 receptors after withdrawal subsided may reflect prolonged heightened cholinergic activity in an area where such cholinergic innervation plays an important role in memory.     

Aroclor 1254 selectively inhibits expression of glial GLT-1 glutamate transporter in the forebrain of chronically exposed adult rat

Aroclor 1254, a commercially produced mixture of polychlorinated biphenyls, is known to cause many adverse conditions, including neurotoxicity. It has been recently postulated that upregulation of N-methyl-d-aspartate receptors (NMDARs) and enhanced glutamate signalling which leads to excitotoxicity, is the mechanism of Aroclor-induced neurotoxicity. To obtain insights into the mechanisms underlying glutamatergic overstimulation, we investigated the function and expression of sodium-dependent glutamate transporters which are known to regulate extracellular glutamate concentrations in the brain. Exposure to Aroclor 1254 was found to significantly lower the uptake of radioactive glutamate into gliosomal fractions obtained from adult rat brains. It also markedly decreased the expression of both protein and mRNA of GLT-1, the main glial glutamate transporter. This indicates that downregulation of GLT-1 may potentially lead to disturbances in glutamate clearance. The expression of GLAST, another astroglial glutamate transporter, was unchanged under conditions of Aroclor toxicity. Conversely, we observed enhanced glutamate uptake into nerve-endings fractions paralleled by increased EAAC1 protein expression. This may reflect the induction of protective mechanisms.