N-methyl-D,L-aspartate-induced locomotor activity in a spinal cord-hindlimb muscles preparation of the newborn rat studied in vitro.
Bath-applied N-methyl-D,L-aspartate (NMA) was found to elicit locomotor electromyogram (EMG) activity in ankle flexor and extensor muscles in an in vitro lumbar cord-hindlimb preparation of the newborn rat. The frequency and burst duration of the NMA-induced rhythmic EMG activity varied in a dose-dependent manner. The locomotor activity was also observed in a mid sagittally split lumbar spinal preparation, in which the frequency was much lower. It is concluded that spinal neurones with N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors are involved in producing locomotor activity in the rat and that each spinal half can generate hindlimb locomotion on the ipsilateral side.
D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D001224:Aspartic Acid / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology; D006614:Hindlimb; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000187:drug effects*; D016202:N-Methylaspartate; D009469:Neuromuscular Junction / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology
D001224:Aspartic Acid; D016202:N-Methylaspartate