Autoradiographic estimation of the extent of reversible inactivation produced by microinjection of lidocaine and muscimol in the rat

Neurosci Lett. 1991 Jun 24;127(2):160-4. doi: 10.1016/0304-3940(91)90784-q.

Abstract

We used autoradiography to examine the extent of reversible inactivation produced by microinjection of lidocaine (40 micrograms/microliters saline) and muscimol (1 microgram/microliter saline). We measured intracortical spread of tracer amounts of labelled drug and local changes in uptake of [1-14C]glucose produced by the microinjection. The maximal average radii of regions of drug spread were 1.7 mm for both [14C]lidocaine and [3H]muscimol and were achieved within the first 20 min postinjection. The width of lidocaine injections decreased at longer postinjection times (30-60 min) but the width of muscimol injections remained relatively constant (30-120 min). Lidocaine radioactivity decreased faster from the injection site than muscimol radioactivity. Glucose autoradiograms showed a discrete region of maximally reduced glucose uptake (1.4 mm for lidocaine and 1.0 mm for muscimol) surrounded by a region of less reduced glucose uptake (up to approximately 3 mm). These findings suggest that, in the cortex, the effects of focal inactivation extend beyond the region of drug spread. Diffuse effects may be mediated of disfacilitation of cortico-cortical circuits.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Autoradiography
  • Cerebral Cortex / metabolism*
  • Female
  • Glucose / metabolism*
  • Lidocaine / administration & dosage
  • Lidocaine / pharmacokinetics*
  • Male
  • Microinjections
  • Muscimol / administration & dosage
  • Muscimol / pharmacokinetics*
  • Rats
  • Tissue Distribution

Substances

  • Muscimol
  • Lidocaine
  • Glucose