Evidence for a specific role for cortical NMDA receptors in slow-wave sleep.
Iontophoresis of the N-methyl-D-aspartic acid (NMDA) receptor antagonist 2-amino-5-phosphonovaleric acid (2-APV) was found to suppress spontaneous bursting activity of layer V cortical neurones during stage 3/4 sleep in unrestrained, normally behaving rats. Iontophoresis of NMDA, on the other hand, increased cortical burst durations and increased the number of spikes per burst. 2-APV was found not to alter cells' responses to tactile stimulation or the generation of neuronal spindling activity during stage 2 sleep. These results provide the first evidence that NMDA receptors subserve a specific function in the neocortex of the behaving animal, by gene-rating burst activity in cortical neurones during stage 3/4 of the natural sleep state. The activation of NMDA/2-APV-sensitive cortical receptors by afferents from the anterior intralaminar nuclei in the generation of bursts by cortical cells during stage 3/4 sleep is discussed.
Armstrong-James
M
M
Department of Physiology, London Hospital Medical College, U.K.
Fox
K
K
D015763:2-Amino-5-phosphonovalerate; D000200:Action Potentials; D000818:Animals; D001224:Aspartic Acid / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000502:physiology; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000502:physiology*; D007478:Iontophoresis; D008297:Male; D016202:N-Methylaspartate; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D016194:Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate; D017981:Receptors, Neurotransmitter / Q000502:physiology*; D012890:Sleep / Q000502:physiology*; D014633:Valine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000502:physiology
D016194:Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate; D017981:Receptors, Neurotransmitter; D001224:Aspartic Acid; D016202:N-Methylaspartate; D015763:2-Amino-5-phosphonovalerate; D014633:Valine