Nitric oxide enhances MPP(+)-induced hydroxyl radical generation via depolarization activated nitric oxide synthase in rat striatum

We examined the effect of N(G)-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME), a nitric oxide synthase (NOS) inhibitor, on extracellular potassium ion concentration ([K(+)](o))-enhanced hydroxyl radical (.OH) generation due to 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium ion (MPP(+)) was examined in the rat striatum. Rats were anesthetized, and sodium salicylate in Ringer's solution (0.5 nmol/microl per min) was infused through a microdialysis probe to detect the generation of.OH as reflected by the non-enzymatic formation of 2,3-dihydroxybenzoic acid (DHBA) in the striatum. Induction of KCl (20, 70 and 140 mM) increased MPP(+)-induced.OH formation trapped as 2,3-dihydroxybenzoic acid (DHBA) in a concentration dependent manner. However, the application of L-NAME (5 mg/kg i.v.) abolished the [K(+)](o) depolarization-induced.OH formation with MPP(+). Dopamine (DA; 10 microM) also increased the levels of DHBA due to MPP(+). However, the effect of DA after application of L-NAME did not change the levels of DHBA. On the other hand, the application of allopurinol (20 mg/kg i.v., 30 min prior to study), a xanthine oxidase (XO) inhibitor was abolished the both [K(+)](o)- and DA-induced.OH generation. Moreover, when iron(II) was administered to MPP(+) then [K(+)](o) (70 mM)-pretreated animals, a marked increase in the level of DHBA. However, when corresponding experiments were performed with L-NAME-pretreated animals, the same results were obtained. Therefore, NOS activation may be no relation to Fenton-type reaction via [K(+)](o) depolarization-induced.OH generation. The present results suggest that [K(+)](o)-induced depolarization augmented MPP(+)-induced.OH formation by enhancing NO synthesis.