title: Glutamate induces a depolarization of adult rat dorsal root ganglion neurons that is mediated predominantly by NMDA receptors.
abstract: The effects of glutamate, glutamate receptor agonists and substances that affect glutamate responses were studied, using the whole-cell patch-clamp technique, on neurons isolated from adult rat dorsal root ganglia. In current-clamp, glutamate (100 microM) or the excitatory amino acid receptor agonist N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA; 10 or 100 microM) induced membrane depolarization. Under voltage-clamp, these compounds induced an inward current that was voltage-dependent in the presence of Mg2+. The NMDA-induced current was inhibited by the NMDA receptor antagonist D,L-2-amino-5-phosphono-valerate (APV; 100 microM), and potentiated by 100 nM glycine. Few neurons responded to the receptor agonists kainate (100 microM), or quisqualate (1-10 microM). These observations suggest that glutamate-induced depolarization of primary sensory neurons is mediated predominantly by NMDA receptors.
authors.affiliation: Section of Electrophysiology, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, Rockville, MD 20852.
authors.forename: D M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Lovinger
authors.forename: F F
authors.initials: FF
authors.lastname: Weight
mesh_terms: D015763:2-Amino-5-phosphonovalerate; D000818:Animals; D004594:Electrophysiology; D005727:Ganglia, Spinal / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D005971:Glutamates / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018698:Glutamic Acid; D005998:Glycine / Q000494:pharmacology; D007608:Kainic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology; D008274:Magnesium / Q000494:pharmacology; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D010069:Oxadiazoles / Q000494:pharmacology; D016318:Quisqualic Acid; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D016194:Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate; D017981:Receptors, Neurotransmitter / Q000502:physiology*; D014633:Valine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D005971:Glutamates; D010069:Oxadiazoles; D016194:Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate; D017981:Receptors, Neurotransmitter; D018698:Glutamic Acid; D015763:2-Amino-5-phosphonovalerate; D016318:Quisqualic Acid; D014633:Valine; D008274:Magnesium; D007608:Kainic Acid; D005998:Glycine