title: Molecular and functional properties of synaptically activated NMDA receptors in neonatal motoneurons in rat spinal cord slices.
abstract: The functional properties of N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor-mediated excitatory postsynaptic currents (EPSC) were studied in fluorescence-labelled motoneurons in thin spinal cord slices. The deactivation of NMDA receptor EPSCs in motoneurons voltage-clamped at +40 mV was independent of intensity or location of stimulation and of postnatal age [taufast = 28.5 +/- 4.6 ms (63.6 +/- 8.8%) and tauslow = 165.6 +/- 49.6 ms]. In the presence of 1 mM Mg2+ the amplitude of NMDA receptor EPSCs was voltage-dependent. Boltzmann analysis of the relationship between peak NMDA receptor EPSC amplitude and membrane potential suggested an apparent Kd of Mg2+ (at 0 mV) of 0.87 mM. Nonstationary variance analysis of NMDA receptor EPSCs gave an estimated single-channel conductance of 59 +/- 14 pS. Direct measurement of the NMDA receptor channel openings in outside-out patches isolated from motoneurons indicated the presence of single-channel conductance levels of 21.8 +/- 2.8 pS, 37. 1 +/- 3.2 pS, 49.6 +/- 5.1 pS and 69.6 +/- 4.2 pS. Single-cell RT-PCR analysis of mRNA revealed that NR1, NR2A-D and NR3A transcripts were expressed in motoneurons. These results suggest that specific assembly of NMDA receptor subunits in motoneurons determines the functional and pharmacological properties of the receptors in these cells.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Physiology, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Víde&nbreve;ská 1083, 142 20 Prague 4, Czech Republic.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Abdrachmanova
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Teisinger
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Vlachová
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Vyklický
mesh_terms: D018750:6-Cyano-7-nitroquinoxaline-2,3-dione / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn / Q000502:physiology*; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D004594:Electrophysiology; D018691:Excitatory Amino Acid Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D019706:Excitatory Postsynaptic Potentials / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008274:Magnesium / Q000494:pharmacology; D008564:Membrane Potentials / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D009046:Motor Neurons / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D018408:Patch-Clamp Techniques; D051381:Rats; D016194:Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D013569:Synapses / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D018691:Excitatory Amino Acid Antagonists; D016194:Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate; D018750:6-Cyano-7-nitroquinoxaline-2,3-dione; D008274:Magnesium