title: Role of NMDA receptors in lesion-induced plasticity.
abstract: The effect of the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonist MK-801 on the acquisition and maintenance of a compensated state following unilateral labyrinthectomy was investigated in two species, grass frog and goldfish. MK-801: 1) inhibits the acquisition of a compensated state, and 2) causes a loss of compensation in early phases of the compensation process, but 3) has no such effect to the long-term maintenance of compensation. It is concluded that NMDA receptors perform a transient function by inducing a sensory or functional substitution process in the deafferented vestibular system. A hypothesis is presented explaining the lesion-induced adaptive process as a result of a self-organizing process in a neural net using Hebb-like algorithms to organize the strength of connections.
authors.affiliation: Brain Research Institute, University of Bremen, Germany.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Flohr
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Lüneburg
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects*; D016291:Dizocilpine Maleate / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D007758:Ear, Inner / Q000502:physiology*; D006054:Goldfish / Q000502:physiology*; D007276:Injections, Intraventricular; D008124:Locomotion / Q000187:drug effects; D009473:Neuronal Plasticity / Q000187:drug effects*; D011187:Posture / Q000502:physiology; D011896:Rana temporaria; D016194:Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate / Q000187:drug effects*; D013550:Swimming; D014722:Vestibule, Labyrinth / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D016194:Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate; D016291:Dizocilpine Maleate