Dopamine, via activation of D1 receptors, enhances N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptor-mediated responses in striatal medium-sized spiny neurons. However, the role of specific NMDA receptor subunits in this enhancement remains unknown. Here we used genetic and pharmacological tools to dissect the contribution of NR1 and NR2A/B subunits to NMDA responses and their modulation by dopamine recepto...

Among integrative neurons displaying long-term synaptic plasticity, adult Purkinje cells seemed to be an exception by lacking functional NMDA receptors (NMDA-Rs). Although numerous anatomical studies have shown both NR1 and NR2 NMDA-R subunits in adult Purkinje cells, patch-clamp studies failed to detect any NMDA currents. Using more recent pharmacological and immunodetection tools, we demonstr...

The N-methyla-aspartate R1 (NMDA Rl), NMDA R2A, and NMDA R2C subunits were expressed transiently in double or triple combinations in human embryonic kidney (HEK) 293 cells. The biochemical and pharmacological properties of the cloned receptors were compared with those of adult mouse forebrain and cerebellum. Under conditions established for maximal expression, cotransfection of the NMDARl and R...

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) and nitric oxide (NO) participate in NMDA receptor signaling. However, the source(s) of the ROS and their role in the increase in cerebral blood flow (CBF) induced by NMDA receptor activation have not been firmly established. NADPH oxidase generates ROS in neurons, but there is no direct evidence that this enzyme is present in neurons containing NMDA receptors, or ...

In the CNS, activation of N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDA-R) glycine binding sites is a prerequisite for activation of postsynaptic NMDA-Rs by the excitatory neurotransmitter glutamate. Here we provide electrophysiological evidence that the glycine binding sites of presynaptic NMDA-Rs regulate glutamate release in layer II/III pyramidal neurons of the rat visual cortex. Specifically, our re...

In the hippocampus, fast excitatory synaptic transmission of principal projection neurons is mediated by non-NMDA glutamate receptors, whereas NMDA glutamate receptors serve a slower modulatory role. We used the whole-cell patch-clamp technique in adult hippocampal slices to assess the role of NMDA receptors in synaptic excitation of a recently discovered excitatory projection neuron, the CA1 r...

Objective(s): -methyl-D-aspartate NMDA receptor (NMDAR) and aquaporin 4 (AQP4) are involved in the molecular cascade of edema after traumatic brain injury (TBI) and are potential targets of studies in pharmacology and medicine. However, their association and interactions are still unknown.Materials and Methods: We established a rat TBI model in this study. The cellular distribution patterns of ...

introduction: activation of n-methyl-d-aspartate (nmda) glutamate receptors in the nucleus accumbens is a component of drug-induced reward mechanism. in addition, nmda receptors play a major role in brain reward system and activation of these receptors can change firing pattern of dopamine neurons. blockade of glutamatergic neurotransmission reduces the expression of conditioned place preferenc...

introduction: generally, nmda receptor antagonists inhibit learning and long-term potentiation (ltp). however, it has been suggested that direct tonic activation of nmda receptors, in contrast to learning, may lead to an increase in synaptic “noise”. uncompetitive nmda receptor antagonist memantine can paradoxically reverse deficits in learning and synaptic plasticity, and restore ltp impaired ...

The amygdala plays a critical role in fear conditioning, a model of emotional learning and cue-induced anxiety. In the lateral amygdala, fear conditioning is associated with an enduring increase in synaptic strength mediated through AMPA receptors and with a reduction in paired-pulse facilitation, reflecting an increased probability of neurotransmitter release. Here we show that NMDA-mediated t...