Air righting: role of the NMDA receptor channel and hippocampal LTP.
Air righting results in an animal turning over when it is dropped from a height in an inverted position. In the rat, air righting is a complex set of movements that depends only on an intact labyrinth and the normal vestibular input. Visual modulation of air righting does not develop until adulthood; and the ability to estimate the time to impact requires bilateral visual cues and indicates that air righting is a complex set of perceptually controlled movements and learning. The general purpose of this study was to determine the role of the NMDA receptor-ion channel on air righting and hippocampal LTP. Specifically: to measure the effects of various doses of CPP, an NMDA receptor antagonist, and MK-801, an ion channel blocker, on (a) air righting and (b) hippocampal LTP induction in medial perforant path-granule cell synapses. The following doses were used: CPP-0, 1, 5, and 10 mg/kg i.p.; MK-801-0. 0, 0.05, 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4, and 0.5 mg/kg i.p. Data were analyzed by appropriate ANOVAs and post hoc tests. Results were significant and demonstrate dose-dependent impairment of air righting and inhibition of LTP for both CPP and MK-801, implicating the role of the NMDA receptor and Na(+)/K(+)/Ca(2)+ channel in these effects. Air righting is a complex behavior and appears to be dependent upon NMDA mediated hippocampal LTP.
Division of Life Sciences, The University of Texas at San Antonio, 6900 North Loop 1604 West, San Antonio, TX 78249-0662, USA. mwayner@utsa.edu
M J
MJ
Wayner
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Tracy
D L
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Armstrong
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Phelix
D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D016291:Dizocilpine Maleate / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D018691:Excitatory Amino Acid Antagonists / Q000008:administration & dosage; D019706:Excitatory Postsynaptic Potentials / Q000187:drug effects; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D007274:Injections, Intraperitoneal; D017774:Long-Term Potentiation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D019580:Perforant Pathway / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D010879:Piperazines / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004856:Postural Balance / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D011187:Posture / Q000502:physiology; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D016194:Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism*; D012018:Reflex / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D013037:Spatial Behavior / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology
D018691:Excitatory Amino Acid Antagonists; D010879:Piperazines; D016194:Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate; D016291:Dizocilpine Maleate; C050592:3-(2-carboxypiperazin-4-yl)propyl-1-phosphonic acid