title: Evidence for the presence of N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors in the ventral tegmental area of the rat: an electrophysiological in vitro study.
abstract: Extracellular recordings were obtained from spontaneously active, presumed dopaminergic neurons of the ventral tegmental area (VTA) of the rat in a slice preparation. Bath-applied N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) (1-20 microM) activated all neurons tested (n = 36). This effect was clearly concentration-dependent (n = 14), quickly reversible and reproducible. No bursting type of discharge was observed during NMDA infusion. The NMDA receptor blocker DL-2-amino-5-phosphonovaleric acid (50 microM) reversibly antagonized the increase in cell firing produced with 10 microM NMDA by 83.5 +/- 3% (mean +/- S.E.M.) (n = 8, P less than 0.05). Lowering the Mg2+ concentration of the perfusion fluid to one-third of its normal value significantly enhanced the excitatory effect of 5 microM NMDA (n = 7, P less than 0.05), but not of 500 nM carbachol (n = 6). Finally, NMDA did not modify the sensitivity of dopaminergic autoreceptors of VTA neurons (n = 8), when compared to controls (n = 10). These observations strongly support the presence of specific NMDA receptors in the VTA.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Pharmacology, University of Liège, Belgium.
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Seutin
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Verbanck
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Massotte
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dresse
mesh_terms: D015763:2-Amino-5-phosphonovalerate / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000200:Action Potentials / Q000187:drug effects; D000818:Animals; D001224:Aspartic Acid / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008274:Magnesium / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D016202:N-Methylaspartate; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D016194:Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate; D017981:Receptors, Neurotransmitter / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D013681:Tegmentum Mesencephali / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D016194:Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate; D017981:Receptors, Neurotransmitter; D001224:Aspartic Acid; D016202:N-Methylaspartate; D015763:2-Amino-5-phosphonovalerate; D008274:Magnesium