title: Acetylcholine potentiates responses to N-methyl-D-aspartate in the rat hippocampus.
abstract: The effect of acetylcholine (ACh) on intracellular responses to ionophoretic application of N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) was examined in rat hippocampal slice. Recordings were obtained from CA1 neurons under current- and voltage-clamp conditions. Drugs were applied topically by ionophoretic and microdrop techniques. ACh produced an atropine-sensitive potentiation of responses to NMDA. The effect of ACh on NMDA receptor-mediated responses was independent of changes in voltage or potassium conductances caused by ACh. ACh also potentiated responses to L-glutamate but not to kainate or quisqualate. This effect was blocked by DL-2-amino-5-phosphonovalerate (2-APV), an NMDA receptor antagonist. We conclude that ACh, acting on muscarinic receptors, potentiates selectively, the NMDA subclass of L-glutamate receptor.
authors.affiliation: Center for Neuroscience, Weizmann Institute, Rehovot, Israel.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Markram
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Segal
mesh_terms: D015763:2-Amino-5-phosphonovalerate / Q000494:pharmacology; D000109:Acetylcholine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000200:Action Potentials / Q000187:drug effects; D000818:Animals; D001224:Aspartic Acid / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology; D005971:Glutamates / Q000494:pharmacology; D018698:Glutamic Acid; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D016202:N-Methylaspartate; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D016194:Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate; D017981:Receptors, Neurotransmitter / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D005971:Glutamates; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents; D016194:Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate; D017981:Receptors, Neurotransmitter; D001224:Aspartic Acid; D018698:Glutamic Acid; D016202:N-Methylaspartate; D015763:2-Amino-5-phosphonovalerate; D000109:Acetylcholine