In a previous study we showed that phosphorylation of the astrocytic marker glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) in hippocampal slices from immature rats (P12-P16) is regulated by a metabotropic glutamate receptor (mGluR). The subtypes of these receptors are divided into three groups and exhibit two distinct transduction signals: activation of phospholipase C and liberation of internal calcium (group I) or modulation of cAMP synthesis (groups II and III). Here we investigated the subtype of mGluR involved. Phosphorylation was strongly stimulated by the selective group II agonists DCG IV, L-CCG-I and 1S,3S-ACPD, whereas the group I agonist 3,5-DHPG and the group III agonist L-AP4 had no effect. These results show that the receptor regulating GFAP phosphorylation in the immature hippocampus has some of the properties of a group II mGluR.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.