title: Endogenous activation of metabotropic glutamate receptors in neocortical development causes neuronal calcium oscillations.
abstract: Oscillations in intracellular free calcium concentration ([Ca(2+)](i)) occur spontaneously in immature neurons of the developing cerebral cortex. Here, we show that developing murine cortical neurons exhibit calcium oscillations in response to direct activation of the mGluR5 subtype of the group I metabotropic glutamate receptor (mGluR). In contrast, other manipulations that elicit [Ca(2+)](i) increases produce simple, nonoscillatory changes. Furthermore, we find that spontaneous oscillatory [Ca(2+)](i) activity is blocked by antagonists of group I mGluRs, suggesting a specific role for mGluR activation in the promotion of oscillatory [Ca(2+)](i) dynamics in immature cortical neurons. The oscillatory pattern of [Ca(2+)](i) increases produced by mGluR activation might play a role in the regulation of gene expression and the control of developmental events.
authors.affiliation: Center for Neurobiology, Columbia University, College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY 10032, USA.
authors.forename: A C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Flint
authors.forename: R S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Dammerman
authors.forename: A R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Kriegstein
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism*; D003515:Cycloleucine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000494:pharmacology; D018690:Excitatory Amino Acid Agonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D018698:Glutamic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology; D008239:Lysine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence; D016202:N-Methylaspartate / Q000494:pharmacology; D019579:Neocortex / Q000196:embryology* / Q000378:metabolism*; D009457:Neuroglia / Q000378:metabolism; D009474:Neurons / Q000378:metabolism; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D020033:Protein Isoforms; D018094:Receptors, Metabotropic Glutamate / Q000378:metabolism*; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D018690:Excitatory Amino Acid Agonists; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D020033:Protein Isoforms; D018094:Receptors, Metabotropic Glutamate; D003515:Cycloleucine; C036361:1-amino-1,3-dicarboxycyclopentane; D018698:Glutamic Acid; D016202:N-Methylaspartate; C013411:biocytin; D008239:Lysine; D002118:Calcium