Biomaterial Database

Cortically evoked excitatory synaptic transmission in the cat red nucleus is antagonised by D-AP5 but not by D-AP7. 1992

N C Harris, and J Davies

Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, London, UK.

Extracellular recordings were made from magnocellular red nucleus neurons (mRN) in alpha-chloralose (50 mg/kg, iv.) anaesthetised cats. Iontophoretically applied N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) excited the neuronal firing which was antagonised by 4 selective NMDA receptor antagonists: 2-amino-5-phosphonopentanoate (AP5), 2-amino-7-phosphonoheptanoate (AP7), RS-4-(phosphonomethyl) piperazine-2-carboxylic acid (PMPC) and R-4-(3-phosphonopropyl) piperazine-2-carboxylic acid (CPP), whereas AMPA responses were uneffected. Monosynaptic excitatory responses were produced by stimulation of the sensorimotor cortex. These responses were reduced and often abolished by AP5 and PMPC but not by AP7 or CPP. It is postulated that two NMDA receptor subtypes exist on mRN neurones.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D009435	Synaptic Transmission	The communication from a NEURON to a target (neuron, muscle, or secretory cell) across a SYNAPSE. In chemical synaptic transmission, the presynaptic neuron releases a NEUROTRANSMITTER that diffuses across the synaptic cleft and binds to specific synaptic receptors, activating them. The activated receptors modulate specific ion channels and/or second-messenger systems in the postsynaptic cell. In electrical synaptic transmission, electrical signals are communicated as an ionic current flow across ELECTRICAL SYNAPSES.	Neural Transmission,Neurotransmission,Transmission, Neural,Transmission, Synaptic
D009474	Neurons	The basic cellular units of nervous tissue. Each neuron consists of a body, an axon, and dendrites. Their purpose is to receive, conduct, and transmit impulses in the NERVOUS SYSTEM.	Nerve Cells,Cell, Nerve,Cells, Nerve,Nerve Cell,Neuron
D010875	Pipecolic Acids		Acids, Pipecolic
D010879	Piperazines	Compounds that are derived from PIPERAZINE.
D012012	Red Nucleus	A pinkish-yellow portion of the midbrain situated in the rostral mesencephalic tegmentum. It receives a large projection from the contralateral half of the CEREBELLUM via the superior cerebellar peduncle and a projection from the ipsilateral MOTOR CORTEX.	Nucleus Ruber,Nucleus, Red
D002415	Cats	The domestic cat, Felis catus, of the carnivore family FELIDAE, comprising over 30 different breeds. The domestic cat is descended primarily from the wild cat of Africa and extreme southwestern Asia. Though probably present in towns in Palestine as long ago as 7000 years, actual domestication occurred in Egypt about 4000 years ago. (From Walker's Mammals of the World, 6th ed, p801)	Felis catus,Felis domesticus,Domestic Cats,Felis domestica,Felis sylvestris catus,Cat,Cat, Domestic,Cats, Domestic,Domestic Cat
D004558	Electric Stimulation	Use of electric potential or currents to elicit biological responses.	Stimulation, Electric,Electrical Stimulation,Electric Stimulations,Electrical Stimulations,Stimulation, Electrical,Stimulations, Electric,Stimulations, Electrical
D000200	Action Potentials	Abrupt changes in the membrane potential that sweep along the CELL MEMBRANE of excitable cells in response to excitation stimuli.	Spike Potentials,Nerve Impulses,Action Potential,Impulse, Nerve,Impulses, Nerve,Nerve Impulse,Potential, Action,Potential, Spike,Potentials, Action,Potentials, Spike,Spike Potential
D000596	Amino Acids	Organic compounds that generally contain an amino (-NH2) and a carboxyl (-COOH) group. Twenty alpha-amino acids are the subunits which are polymerized to form proteins.	Amino Acid,Acid, Amino,Acids, Amino
D000818	Animals	Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA.	Animal,Metazoa,Animalia