N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptor activated by glutamate/glycine is located in the kidneys. The NMDA receptor subunit NR1 is increased in damaged renal tissue. This study explored the role of NMDA receptors in ischemia-reperfusion-induced renal dysfunction in rats. With Western blot analysis and renal functional assay, NMDA receptor expression was evaluated, as well as its functional role in...

Background and Objective: Methylphenidate (MPH), as a central nervous system stimulant, is often used to manage hyperactive disorders. The literature is scarce regarding the behavioral consequences of chronic MPH treatment and the role of involved receptors. Thus, in the current study involved receptors in MPH induced-anxiety, depression and motor activity disorders were evaluated. Materials a...

Infrared differential interference contrast (IR DIC) videomicroscopy was used to measure and characterize cell swelling induced by activation of glutamate receptors (GluR) in a neostriatal brain slice preparation. This swelling is, in many cases, a prelude to necrotic cell death. Activation of N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) and non-NMDA ionotropic GluRs caused cell swelling. The concentration-resp...

Deactivation of N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) channels after brief agonist exposure determines the duration of their synaptic activation during excitatory neurotransmission. We performed patch-clamp recordings of L-glutamate responses from human embryonic kidney tumoral cells (HEK293) expressing NR1 subunit variants lacking exon 5 together with the NR2B subunit. These responses had deactivation c...

In the current study, the partial NMDA receptor agonist D-cycloserine (DCS) rescued memory consolidation following systemic bacterial endotoxin exposure. DCS failed, however, to restore hippocampal BDNF mRNA levels that were diminished following a systemic administration of LPS, and did not alter NR1 or NR2C NMDA receptor subunit expression. These results extend prior research into the role of ...

1. Thirty-three neurons in the L6-Sl spinal cord of 30 adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were characterized for responses to colorectal distention (CRD, 20-80 mmHg, 20 s) and convergent cutaneous receptive fields in the presence and absence of N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA; 1 microM) or D-serine (1 microM) administered locally by pressure ejection. 2. NMDA ejected locally increased the resting (spont...

We investigated the mechanisms by which the antiparkinsonian and neuroprotective agents amantadine and memantine inhibit responses to N-methyl-D-aspartic acid (NMDA). Whole cell recordings were performed using cultured rat cortical neurons or Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells expressing NMDA receptors. Both amantadine and memantine blocked NMDA-activated channels by binding to a site at which t...

The effects of N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) on opioid receptor-mediated G protein activation were explored in neuroblastoma X glioma hybrid (NG108-15) cells. Treatment of the cells with NMDA resulted in a remarkable attenuation of [35S]guanosine-5'-O-(3-thio)triphosphate binding stimulated by [D-Pen2,D-Pen5]-enkephalin (DPDPE), a delta-opioid receptor agonist. The effects of NMDA were dose and t...

The electrophysiological effects produced by different concentrations of kainic acid (KA) were studied by utilizing intracellular recordings from neostriatal slices. In most of the recorded cells (81%), concentrations of KA ranging between 10 and 300 nM produced reversible and dose-dependent membrane depolarizations. Higher concentrations of this agonist caused larger depolarizations and change...

BACKGROUND Pain, the most common reasons for physician consultation, is a major symptom in many medical conditions that can significantly interfere with a person's life quality and general functioning. Almost all painkillers have its untoward effects. Therefore, seeking for a safe medication for pain relieve is notable nowadays. Paeonia lactiflora is a well-known traditional Chinese medicine. P...