Helium pressure potentiates the N-methyl-D-aspartate- and D,L-homocysteate-induced decreases of field potentials in the rat hippocampal slice preparation.
We examined the influence of helium pressure on the depression induced by various excitatory amino acids in CA1 hippocampal field potentials. The effects of quisqualate, L-glutamate, L-aspartate and kainate were not significantly affected by helium pressure, while those of N-methyl-D-aspartate and D,L-homocysteate were enhanced. These findings suggest that helium pressure specifically increased the sensitivity of the N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor type in the hippocampus. Other hypotheses are discussed.
Fagni
L
L
GS de Physiologie Hyperbare C.N.R.S., Faculté de Médecine Nord, Marseille, France.
Zinebi
F
F
Hugon
M
M
D000200:Action Potentials / Q000187:drug effects; D000399:Air Pressure; D000596:Amino Acids / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D001224:Aspartic Acid / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology; D006371:Helium / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D006710:Homocysteine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008297:Male; D016202:N-Methylaspartate; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains
D000596:Amino Acids; D006710:Homocysteine; C007956:homocysteic acid; D006371:Helium; D001224:Aspartic Acid; D016202:N-Methylaspartate