DECREASE AND INCREASE OF RESPONSES TO GLUTAMATE-RECEPTOR AGONISTS IN RNA-INJECTED XENOPUS OOCYTES BY THE EPILEPTOGENIC AGENT PENTYLENETETRAZOL - DEPENDENCE ON THE AGONIST CONCENTRATION

The effects of the epileptogenic agent pentylenetetrazol (PTZ) on current responses to glutamate (Glu) and to the Glu receptor agonists N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA), kainate (KA), alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazole propionic acid (AMPA) and quisqualate (QA) were studied on RNA-injected Xenopus oocytes. PTZ antagonized the reactions to Glu as well as to NMDA, KA, AMPA and QA. With increasing concentration of AMPA, however, the depressive effect of PTZ turned to an augmentation. The complete change from a decreasing to an increasing effect of PTZ with elevated agonist concentration was unique for current responses by AMPA.