Prenatal development of NMDA receptor composition and function in trigeminal neurons.
The prenatal development of neural circuits for rhythmical oral-motor behaviors used for feeding is essential for the survival of the newborn mammal. The N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor plays a critical role in brainstem circuits underlying postnatal oral-motor behaviors. To understand a role for the NMDA receptor in the emergence of sucking behavior we conducted physiological and immunohistochemical experiments using fetal rats. Physiology experiments examined the development of the NMDA dose response of the brainstem circuit responsible for generating rhythmical trigeminal activity by recording trigeminal motor outputs using an in vitro preparation. The high dose of NMDA agonist bath application affected the mean cycle duration of rhythmical trigeminal activity (RTA) at both embryonic day (E) 18-19 and E20-21 in comparison with standard concentration of NMDA agonist. NMDA receptor immunohistochemistry studies, using antibodies directed against subunits NR1, NR2A, NR2B, NR3A and NR3B were performed to determine the prenatal regulation of NMDA subunits in trigeminal motoneurons (Mo5), and mesencephalic trigeminal neurons (Me5) between E17 to E20. In Mo5, NR1, NR2A, NR2B and NR3A immunoreactivity was observed throughout the time frame sampled. NR3B immunoreactivity was not observed in Mo5 or Me5. In Mo5, there was a significant decrease in the percentage of NR2B immunoreactive neurons between E17 and E20, and a concurrent increase in the NR2A/NR2B ratio between E17 and E20. In Me5, NR1, NR2A and NR3A immunoreactivity was observed throughout the time frame sampled; a significant decrease in the percentage of NR2A immunoreactive neurons between E17 and E20, and NR3A immunoreactive neurons between E17 and E18 occurred. The timing of subunit changes between E17 and E18 is coincident with the prenatal emergence of rhythmical jaw movements, and in vitro rhythmical trigeminal activity, shown in earlier studies. Our data suggest that NMDA receptor plays an important role in the development and function of prenatal oral-motor circuits.
Ishihama
Kohji
K
First Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Osaka University Graduate School of Dentistry, Japan.
Kogo
Mikihiko
M
Wakisaka
Satoshi
S
Turman
Jack E
JE
D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D008636:Mesencephalon / Q000737:chemistry / Q000166:cytology / Q000196:embryology / Q000378:metabolism; D016202:N-Methylaspartate / Q000502:physiology; D009474:Neurons / Q000378:metabolism*; D021122:Protein Subunits / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D016194:Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D014276:Trigeminal Nerve / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000166:cytology / Q000196:embryology* / Q000378:metabolism
D021122:Protein Subunits; D016194:Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate; D016202:N-Methylaspartate