title: Induction of locomotion in spinal tadpoles by excitatory amino acids and their agonists.
abstract: Bath application of the excitatory amino acids L-aspartate and/or L-glutamate or their agonists N-methyl-D,L-aspartate and/or kainate elicited swimming movements in spinal tadpoles. Swimming cycles induced by the amino acids were in the frequency range of natural movements, and could be evoked after sectioning all dorsal roots in the exposed spinal segments. Locomotion was only elicited by L-aspartate or L-glutamate at low concentrations when the bath medium was rapidly circulated over the exposed surface of the spinal cord, and was of much shorter duration than the agonist-induced movements. These results indicate some differences between the actions of L-aspartate and L-glutamate and their agonists on the tadpole spinal cord.
authors.affiliation: Developmental Neurobiology, Research School of Biological Sciences, Australian National University, Canberra.
authors.forename: P H
authors.initials: PH
authors.lastname: Harrison
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001001:Anura; D001224:Aspartic Acid / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000502:physiology*; D005971:Glutamates / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000502:physiology*; D018698:Glutamic Acid; D007608:Kainic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008124:Locomotion / Q000502:physiology*; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D016202:N-Methylaspartate; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D013550:Swimming
chemical_list: D005971:Glutamates; D001224:Aspartic Acid; D018698:Glutamic Acid; D016202:N-Methylaspartate; D007608:Kainic Acid