title: Effects of NR2A and NR2B-containing N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors on neuronal-firing properties.
abstract: The N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors (NMDARs) play a key role in synaptic plasticity, but it remains unclear whether the intrinsic-firing properties, another major determinant of the functional output of neurons, are regulated by activation of NMDARs. Here, we examine the effects of NMDAR activation on the intrinsic-firing properties of medium spiny neurons in nucleus accumbens in vitro. NMDAR activation by bath application of NMDA increased both the intrinsic excitability and the spike adaptation of these neurons. Furthermore, selective activation of NR2A-containing NMDARs mediated the enhancement of spike adaptation, whereas selective activation of NR2B-containing NMDARs increased the intrinsic excitability, suggesting that NR2A-containing and NR2B-containing NMDARs play different roles in mediating the intrinsic-firing properties of neurons.
authors.affiliation: College of Life Sciences, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Meimei
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Shi
authors.forename: Xiaobo
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Chunling
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Wei
authors.forename: Minghao
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Zhiqiang
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Ren
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D008564:Membrane Potentials / Q000502:physiology*; D009474:Neurons / Q000502:physiology*; D009714:Nucleus Accumbens / Q000502:physiology*; D018408:Patch-Clamp Techniques; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D016194:Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: C120997:NR2A NMDA receptor; C121001:NR2B NMDA receptor; D016194:Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate