咀嚼が前頭皮質グルタミン酸代謝に及ぼす影響

Abstract

Relationships between the concentration of glutamic acid in the rat frontal cortex and mastication were evaluated in this study. Using an encephalic micro-dialysis method, the concentration of glutamic acid in the frontal cortical extracellular fluid in non- restrained and non-anesthetized rats was measured at intervals of 10 minutes using high performance liquid chromatography, and serial changes in the concentration of glutamic acid before and after eating were evaluated. The concentrqtion of glutamic acid increased immediately after eating solid food. This increase was observed immediately after mastication by biting and cutting the solid food with the incisors, and it was also observed during the period 10 minutes after the start of mastication while eating the food. With powdered food, the increase in the concentration of glutamic acid was observed only during the period 10 minutes after the start of mastication. The increase in the concentration of glutamic acid due to mastication was inhibited by CNQX, but it was not inhibited by MK801, suggesting that AMPA/KA receptors were involved in the concentration increase.