Physiological activation of the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) subtype of glutamate receptors has been proposed to play a key role in both neuronal cell function and dysfunction. In the present study, we used selective NMDA receptor antagonists to investigate the involvement of NR2A and NR2B subunits in the modulatory effect of basal NMDA receptor activity on the phosphorylation of Tau proteins. W...

1. We have expressed recombinant NR1a/NR2A and NR1a/NR2D N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor channels in Xenopus oocytes and made recordings of single-channel and macroscopic currents in outside-out membrane patches. For each receptor type we measured (a) the individual single-channel activations evoked by low glutamate concentrations in steady-state recordings, and (b) the macroscopic respons...

Specific immunohistochemical staining for NMDA receptor NR2A/B subunits was found in the outer root sheath layer of rat sinus hair (whisker) follicle. Co-localization with CK 20 confirmed that Merkel cells were stained. The NR2A/B staining seen on Merkel cells was pericellular. In addition it appeared that NF70-positive staining was in close proximity to, but did not colocalise with NR2A/B immu...

Evidence suggests the involvement of N‑methyl‑D‑ aspartate receptors (NMDAR) in the regulation of neurogenesis. Functional properties of NMDAR are strongly influenced by the type of NR2 subunits in the receptor complex. NR2A‑ and NR2B‑containing receptors are expressed in neonatal forebrain regions, such as the subventricular zone (SVZ). The aim of the present study was to examine the effect of...

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Postsynaptic density (PSD)-93 and PSD-95 are the major membrane-associated guanylate kinases (MAGUKs) at excitatory synapses of the brain linking the N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) with neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS), which contributes to cell death after neonatal hypoxia-ischemia (HI). We investigated whether deletion of PSD-93 would dissociate the NMDAR fr...

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Overassembly of synaptic glutamate receptors leads to excitotoxicity. The goal of this study is to investigate phosphorylation and assembly of α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazole propionic acid and N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors after brain ischemia with reperfusion (I/R). METHODS Rats were subjected to 15 minutes of global ischemia followed by 0.5, 4, and 24 hours o...

Introduction: N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors play a pivotal role in the development of tolerance and physical dependence to opiates. Activation of NMDA receptors involves the induction of long term potentiation (LTP) in hippocampus. Our previous study suggested that chronic oral administration of morphine enhanced NMDA dependent LTP in the CA1 area of hippocampal slices of rats. The p...