Inhibition of Glutamate-induced Nitric Oxide Synthase Activation by Dopamine in Cultured Rat Retinal Neurons

Previously, we showed that dopamine protects cultured retinal neurons from N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor mediated-glutamate excitotoxicity via dopamine D1 receptor. This study has demonstrated for the first time that nitric oxide synthase (NOS) plays a crucial role in dopamine-induced neuroprotection. Our patch clamp study has shown that dopamine does not affect the NMDA-induced whole cell current. Dopamine or SKF38393 (D1 receptor agonist) inhibited ionomycin (calcium ionophore)-induced toxicity, while dopamine did not affect S-nitrosocysteine (NO donor)-induced toxicity. Biochemical analysis on enzymatic activities has shown that dopamine or cAMP (which is generated through D1 receptor stimulation) inhibits glutamate induced-NOS activation. These results suggest that dopamine inhibits glutamate induced-NOS activation via D1 receptor, resulting in the protection of retinal neurons.