Neurons release nitric oxide (NO) in response to activation of receptors for the excitatory amino acid N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA). We examined the hypothesis that activation of receptors for NMDA produces dilatation of the cerebral microcirculation that is mediated by NO. Diameters of cerebral arterioles were measured using a closed cranial window in anesthetized rabbits. Under control conditi...

Anti-N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (anti-NMDAR) encephalitis is a potentially fatal autoimmune syndrome in which IgG antibodies target the NR1 subunit of NMDA resulting profound dysregulation and neurotransmission.

Microinjection of NMDA and non-NMDA agonists into the same sites in pontomedullary motor "inhibitory" areas of decerebrate animals produced opposite effects on muscle tone. Microinjection of non-NMDA agonists into peri-locus coeruleus alpha (peri-LC alpha) and nucleus magnocellularis (NMC) suppressed muscle tone, while injection of NMDA agonists at the same sites increased muscle tone and produ...

L-Homocysteic acid (HCA), an endogenous excitatory amino acid in the mammalian CNS, potently activates N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors in hippocampal neurons. However, the responses to HCA in Purkinje cells, which lack functional NMDA receptors, have been largely unexplored: HCA may activate conventional non-NMDA receptors by its mixed agonistic action on both NMDA and non-NMDA receptors,...

introduction: the brain glutamate neurotransmitter system and its nmda receptors in the nucleus accumbens play an important role in the incidence of the phenomena of sensitivity and addiction. the present study examined the inhibitory effect of glutamate nmda receptors in the nucleus accumbens in response to chronic stress. methods: after the unilateral and bilateral cannula placement in the nu...

Chronic exposure to lead (Pb) affects neural functions in central nervous system (CNS) particularly the learning and memory. On the other hand, alteration of calcium level in the CNS results in activation of NOS. It has been shown that lead enters the neurons through calcium channels and displaces Ca2+ from calcium binding proteins such as calmodulin and troponin C thereby affecting calcium-med...

The neuronal Na+-activated K+ channel Slack (aka Slo2.2, KNa1.1, or Kcnt1) has been implicated in setting and maintaining the resting membrane potential defining excitability firing patterns, as well generation of slow afterhyperpolarization following bursts action potentials. activity increases significantly under conditions high intracellular Na+ levels, suggesting this may exert important pa...

Ca influx through NMDA receptors (NMDARs) triggers synaptic plasticity, gene transcription, and cytotoxicity, but little is known about the regulation of NMDA-Rs themselves. We used two-photon glutamate uncaging to activate NMDA-Rs on individual dendritic spines in rat CA1 neurons while we measured NMDAR currents at the soma and [Ca] changes in spines. Low-frequency uncaging trains induced Ca-d...

It has been suggested that NR2B-containing NMDA receptors have a selective tendency to promote pro-death signalling and synaptic depression, compared to the survival promoting, synapse potentiating properties of NR2A-containing NMDA receptors. A preferential localization of NR2A-containing NMDA receptors at the synapse in maturing neurons could thus explain differences in synaptic vs. extrasyna...