Nicotinic acetylcholine receptor mediated modulation of evoked excitatory amino acid release in the nucleus tractus solitarius of the rat: evidence from in vivo microdialysis

In vivo microdialysis was used to measure release of endogenous -glutamate and -aspartate in the nucleus tractus solitarius of the anaesthetised rat evoked by baroreceptor loading. Aortic constriction, the method of loading, elicited a reproducible increase in extracellular levels of -glutamate to 322±139% of basal levels, which could be attenuated by concomitant local administration of the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor antagonist mecamylamine (100 μM).