Modulation of [3H]Dopamine Release by Glutathione in Mouse Striatal Slices

Glutathione (γ-glutamylcysteinylglycine, GSH and oxidized glutathione, GSSG), may function as a neuromodulator at the glutamate receptors and as a neurotransmitter at its own receptors. We studied now the effects of GSH, GSSG, glutathione derivatives and thiol redox agents on the spontaneous, K+- and glutamate-agonist-evoked releases of [3H]dopamine from mouse striatal slices. The release evoked by 25 mM K+ was inhibited by GSH, S-ethyl-, -propyl-, -butyl- and pentylglutathione and glutathione sulfonate. 5,5′-Dithio-bis-2-nitrobenzoate (DTNB) and l-cystine were also inhibitory, while dithiothreitol (DTT) and l-cysteine enhanced the K+-evoked release. Ten min preperfusion with 50 μM ZnCl2 enhanced the basal unstimulated release but prevented the activation of K+-evoked release by DTT.