Rat motoneuron cell death in development correlates with loss of N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors.
New techniques were applied for maintaining viable motoneurons in rat cervical spinal cord slices to study electrical and morphological properties from postnatal day (PD) 2-49. Lucifer Yellow injections showed nine to 12, or more, viable motoneurons/slice at PD2, reduced to two to three in lamina IX by PD9. At PD2 and from PD14 onward healthy motoneurons were electrically similar to those of adults. Motoneurons exhibited variable electrical properties and morphology around PD5. They were sensitive to kainate and AMPA at all ages. The sensitivity to N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) was significant at PD2, less at PD9 and virtually absent at PD14. Our observations suggest that NMDA receptors play a role in regulation of motoneuron survival in the early postnatal period, but are lost from adult motoneurons.
Hori
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School of Public Health, University at Albany, One University Place, Room B242, Rensselaer, NY 12144-3456, USA.
Tan
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Y
Strominger
N L
NL
Carpenter
D O
DO
D000367:Age Factors; D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D016923:Cell Death / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D004553:Electric Conductivity; D018690:Excitatory Amino Acid Agonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D005453:Fluorescence; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007478:Iontophoresis / Q000379:methods; D007546:Isoquinolines / Q000008:administration & dosage; D007608:Kainic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology; D008297:Male; D009046:Motor Neurons / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D016202:N-Methylaspartate / Q000494:pharmacology; D018408:Patch-Clamp Techniques / Q000379:methods; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar / Q000502:physiology; D016194:Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000737:chemistry / Q000166:cytology / Q000254:growth & development; D018350:alpha-Amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology
D018690:Excitatory Amino Acid Agonists; D007546:Isoquinolines; D016194:Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate; D016202:N-Methylaspartate; D018350:alpha-Amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic Acid; C017475:lucifer yellow; D007608:Kainic Acid