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.
Wayner
M J
MJ
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
Tracy
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Armstrong
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Phelix
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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