Abstract
Dexmedetomidine is a highly specific alpha2-adrenergic agonist, which is used clinically as an anesthetic adjuvant and in animal experiments has a neuroprotective effect during ischemia. The current study showed that dexmedetomidine enhances glutamine disposal by oxidative metabolism in astrocytes. This effect occurs at pharmacologically relevant concentrations. It is exerted on alpha2-adrenergic receptors and not on imidazoline-preferring sites, and it is large enough to reduce the availability of glutamine as a precursor of neurotoxic glutamate.
MeSH terms
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Adrenergic alpha-Agonists / pharmacology*
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Animals
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Astrocytes / cytology
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Astrocytes / drug effects*
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Astrocytes / metabolism*
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Brain Ischemia / metabolism
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Carbon Dioxide / metabolism
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Carbon Radioisotopes
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Cells, Cultured
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Cerebral Cortex / cytology
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Dexmedetomidine / pharmacology*
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Glutamic Acid / metabolism
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Glutamine / metabolism*
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Hypoxia, Brain / metabolism
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Mice
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Neuroprotective Agents / pharmacology*
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Neurotoxins / metabolism
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Oxidation-Reduction
Substances
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Adrenergic alpha-Agonists
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Carbon Radioisotopes
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Neuroprotective Agents
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Neurotoxins
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Glutamine
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Carbon Dioxide
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Glutamic Acid
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Dexmedetomidine