title: NMDA receptor-mediated oscillatory activity in the neonatal rat spinal cord is serotonin dependent.
abstract: The effect of serotonin (5-HT) receptor blockade on rhythmic network activity and on N-methyl--aspartate (NMDA) receptor-induced membrane voltage oscillations was examined using an in vitro neonatal rat spinal cord preparation. Pharmacologically induced rhythmic hindlimb activity, monitored via flexor and extensor electroneurograms or ventral root recordings, was abolished by 5-HT receptor antagonists. Intrinsic motoneuronal voltage oscillations, induced by NMDA in the presence of tetrodotoxin (TTX), either were abolished completely or transformed to long-lasting voltage shifts by 5-HT receptor antagonists. Conversely, 5-HT application facilitated the expression of NMDA-receptor-mediated rhythmic voltage oscillations. The results suggest that an interplay between 5-HT and NMDA receptor actions may be critical for the production of rhythmic motor behavior in the mammalian spinal cord, both at the network and single cell level.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba R3E 0W3, Canada.
authors.forename: J N
authors.initials: JN
authors.lastname: MacLean
authors.forename: K C
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Cowley
authors.forename: B J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Schmidt
mesh_terms: D000109:Acetylcholine / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D001683:Biological Clocks / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D004491:Edrophonium / Q000494:pharmacology; D006614:Hindlimb / Q000502:physiology; D007650:Ketanserin / Q000494:pharmacology; D008124:Locomotion / Q000502:physiology; D008803:Mianserin / Q000494:pharmacology; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D009046:Motor Neurons / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D016202:N-Methylaspartate / Q000494:pharmacology; D010277:Parasympathomimetics / Q000494:pharmacology; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D016194:Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate / Q000502:physiology*; D011985:Receptors, Serotonin / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D012701:Serotonin / Q000502:physiology*; D012702:Serotonin Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000502:physiology*; D013779:Tetrodotoxin / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D010277:Parasympathomimetics; D016194:Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate; D011985:Receptors, Serotonin; D012702:Serotonin Antagonists; D008803:Mianserin; D012701:Serotonin; D013779:Tetrodotoxin; D016202:N-Methylaspartate; D004491:Edrophonium; D007650:Ketanserin; D000109:Acetylcholine