title: NMDA receptor-mediated synaptic input to nitric oxide synthase-containing neurons of the guinea pig mesopontine tegmentum in vitro.
abstract: Intracellular recordings were obtained from laterodorsal tegmental (LDT) and pedunculopontine tegmental (PPT) neurons in a slice preparation to determine if excitatory synaptic input to the nitric oxide synthase (NOS)-containing cells was mediated by NMDA receptors. NOS cells were identified by intracellular injection of biocytin and NADPH-diaphorase histochemistry. Application of NMDA produced membrane depolarization, and EPSPs were reversibly reduced by an average of 46.3 +/- 16.6% with AP-5 (50 microM). These results indicate that post-synaptic NMDA receptors participate in synaptic transmission to NOS-containing neurons in LDT and PPT and are consistent with the hypothesis that synaptic NMDA receptors may control NO production in these cells.
authors.affiliation: Center for Neural Science, New York University, NY 10003.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sanchez
authors.forename: C S
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Leonard
mesh_terms: D015763:2-Amino-5-phosphonovalerate / Q000494:pharmacology; D000594:Amino Acid Oxidoreductases / Q000502:physiology*; D000818:Animals; D005071:Evoked Potentials / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D006651:Histocytochemistry; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008564:Membrane Potentials / Q000187:drug effects; D009252:NADPH Dehydrogenase / Q000378:metabolism; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology / Q000502:physiology*; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase; D011149:Pons / Q000166:cytology / Q000201:enzymology / Q000502:physiology*; D016194:Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D012895:Sleep, REM / Q000502:physiology; D013569:Synapses / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D013681:Tegmentum Mesencephali / Q000166:cytology / Q000201:enzymology / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D016194:Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate; D015763:2-Amino-5-phosphonovalerate; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase; D000594:Amino Acid Oxidoreductases; D009252:NADPH Dehydrogenase