Glutamate currents in mammalian spinal neurons: resolution of a paradox.
Mouse spinal cord neurons grown in tissue culture were impaled with a pair of microelectrodes containing 1 M CsCl and voltage-clamped. Membrane currents evoked by excitatory amino acids were studied over the potential range -70 to +20 mV. Glutamate currents behaved as though generated by simultaneous activation of two conductance mechanisms, one voltage-sensitive, the other conventional. Block of NMDA receptors with the competitive antagonist 2-APV removed the voltage-sensitive component of the glutamate response. These results help to explain the paradoxical lack of conductance-change previously reported for glutamate responses recorded in the mammalian CNS.
D000818:Animals; D046508:Culture Techniques; D005971:Glutamates / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018698:Glutamic Acid; D008564:Membrane Potentials / Q000187:drug effects; D051379:Mice; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects; D017459:Receptors, Amino Acid; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface / Q000187:drug effects; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000187:drug effects*; D009435:Synaptic Transmission / Q000187:drug effects*
D005971:Glutamates; D017459:Receptors, Amino Acid; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; D018698:Glutamic Acid