Biomaterial Database

N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors influence neuronal survival in developing spinal cord cultures. 1990

D E Brenneman, and I D Forsythe, and T Nicol, and P G Nelson

Unit on Neurochemistry, National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, Bethesda, MD 20892.

Neuronal cell death, which exhibits precise spatial and temporal regulation, serves to remodel and optimize function in the developing nervous system. The mechanisms underlying neuronal cell death are poorly understood, but electrical activity and trophic substances appear to be among the important determinants of survival. We find that N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonists induce neuronal cell death in developing spinal cord cultures. The magnitude of cell death is similar in amount to that produced by blocking action potentials with tetrodotoxin (TTX). The NMDA antagonists and TTX accelerate neuronal death in 2-week-old cultures but not in those that are 1 month old. Low concentrations of NMDA increased neuronal survival under conditions of electrical blockade with TTX. In addition, treatment with low levels of a calcium ionophore also decreased cell death associated with TTX. These results suggest that the NMDA receptor is an important determinant of neuronal survival and that this influence is stage-dependent and likely to be calcium-mediated.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008810	Mice, Inbred C57BL	One of the first INBRED MOUSE STRAINS to be sequenced. This strain is commonly used as genetic background for transgenic mouse models. Refractory to many tumors, this strain is also preferred model for studying role of genetic variations in development of diseases.	Mice, C57BL,Mouse, C57BL,Mouse, Inbred C57BL,C57BL Mice,C57BL Mice, Inbred,C57BL Mouse,C57BL Mouse, Inbred,Inbred C57BL Mice,Inbred C57BL Mouse
D002452	Cell Count	The number of CELLS of a specific kind, usually measured per unit volume or area of sample.	Cell Density,Cell Number,Cell Counts,Cell Densities,Cell Numbers,Count, Cell,Counts, Cell,Densities, Cell,Density, Cell,Number, Cell,Numbers, Cell
D002470	Cell Survival	The span of viability of a cell characterized by the capacity to perform certain functions such as metabolism, growth, reproduction, some form of responsiveness, and adaptability.	Cell Viability,Cell Viabilities,Survival, Cell,Viabilities, Cell,Viability, Cell
D002478	Cells, Cultured	Cells propagated in vitro in special media conducive to their growth. Cultured cells are used to study developmental, morphologic, metabolic, physiologic, and genetic processes, among others.	Cultured Cells,Cell, Cultured,Cultured Cell
D003986	Dibenzocycloheptenes	A family of tricyclic hydrocarbons whose members include many of the commonly used tricyclic antidepressants (ANTIDEPRESSIVE AGENTS, TRICYCLIC).
D005727	Ganglia, Spinal	Sensory ganglia located on the dorsal spinal roots within the vertebral column. The spinal ganglion cells are pseudounipolar. The single primary branch bifurcates sending a peripheral process to carry sensory information from the periphery and a central branch which relays that information to the spinal cord or brain.	Dorsal Root Ganglia,Spinal Ganglia,Dorsal Root Ganglion,Ganglion, Spinal,Ganglia, Dorsal Root,Ganglion, Dorsal Root,Spinal Ganglion
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
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
D013779	Tetrodotoxin	An aminoperhydroquinazoline poison found mainly in the liver and ovaries of fishes in the order TETRAODONTIFORMES, which are eaten. The toxin causes paresthesia and paralysis through interference with neuromuscular conduction.	Fugu Toxin,Tarichatoxin,Tetradotoxin,Toxin, Fugu
D015763	2-Amino-5-phosphonovalerate	The D-enantiomer is a potent and specific antagonist of NMDA glutamate receptors (RECEPTORS, N-METHYL-D-ASPARTATE). The L form is inactive at NMDA receptors but may affect the AP4 (2-amino-4-phosphonobutyrate; APB) excitatory amino acid receptors.	2-Amino-5-phosphonopentanoic Acid,2-Amino-5-phosphonovaleric Acid,2-APV,2-Amino-5-phosphonopentanoate,5-Phosphononorvaline,d-APV,dl-APV,2 Amino 5 phosphonopentanoate,2 Amino 5 phosphonopentanoic Acid,2 Amino 5 phosphonovalerate,2 Amino 5 phosphonovaleric Acid,5 Phosphononorvaline