Biomaterial Database

The effects of excitatory amino acids and their antagonists on the generation of motor activity in the isolated chick spinal cord. 1987

M J Barry, and M J O'Donovan

Department of Physiology and Biophysics, University of Iowa, Iowa City 52242.

We have investigated the action of excitatory amino acids and their antagonists on spontaneous motor activity produced by an isolated preparation of the chick lumbosacral cord. Bath application of N-methyl-DL-aspartic acid (NMDA) or D-glutamate increased the occurrence and duration of spontaneous episodes of motor activity. Both NMDA-induced and spontaneous activity were reversibly inhibited by several excitatory amino acid antagonists including 2-amino-5-phosphono valeric acid and gamma-D-glutamyl glycine in a dose-dependent manner. These results suggest that motor activity in the chick spinal cord may be regulated by the release of endogenous excitatory amino acids from spinal interneurons.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007736	Kynurenic Acid	A broad-spectrum excitatory amino acid antagonist used as a research tool.	Kynurenate,Acid, Kynurenic
D009043	Motor Activity	Body movements of a human or an animal as a behavioral phenomenon.	Activities, Motor,Activity, Motor,Motor Activities
D009046	Motor Neurons	Neurons which activate MUSCLE CELLS.	Neurons, Motor,Alpha Motorneurons,Motoneurons,Motor Neurons, Alpha,Neurons, Alpha Motor,Alpha Motor Neuron,Alpha Motor Neurons,Alpha Motorneuron,Motoneuron,Motor Neuron,Motor Neuron, Alpha,Motorneuron, Alpha,Motorneurons, Alpha,Neuron, Alpha Motor,Neuron, Motor
D002642	Chick Embryo	The developmental entity of a fertilized chicken egg (ZYGOTE). The developmental process begins about 24 h before the egg is laid at the BLASTODISC, a small whitish spot on the surface of the EGG YOLK. After 21 days of incubation, the embryo is fully developed before hatching.	Embryo, Chick,Chick Embryos,Embryos, Chick
D003292	Convulsants	Substances that act in the brain stem or spinal cord to produce tonic or clonic convulsions, often by removing normal inhibitory tone. They were formerly used to stimulate respiration or as antidotes to barbiturate overdose. They are now most commonly used as experimental tools.	Convulsant,Convulsant Effect,Convulsant Effects,Effect, Convulsant,Effects, Convulsant
D004151	Dipeptides	Peptides composed of two amino acid units.	Dipeptide
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
D001224	Aspartic Acid	One of the non-essential amino acids commonly occurring in the L-form. It is found in animals and plants, especially in sugar cane and sugar beets. It may be a neurotransmitter.	(+-)-Aspartic Acid,(R,S)-Aspartic Acid,Ammonium Aspartate,Aspartate,Aspartate Magnesium Hydrochloride,Aspartic Acid, Ammonium Salt,Aspartic Acid, Calcium Salt,Aspartic Acid, Dipotassium Salt,Aspartic Acid, Disodium Salt,Aspartic Acid, Hydrobromide,Aspartic Acid, Hydrochloride,Aspartic Acid, Magnesium (1:1) Salt, Hydrochloride, Trihydrate,Aspartic Acid, Magnesium (2:1) Salt,Aspartic Acid, Magnesium-Potassium (2:1:2) Salt,Aspartic Acid, Monopotassium Salt,Aspartic Acid, Monosodium Salt,Aspartic Acid, Potassium Salt,Aspartic Acid, Sodium Salt,Calcium Aspartate,Dipotassium Aspartate,Disodium Aspartate,L-Aspartate,L-Aspartic Acid,Magnesiocard,Magnesium Aspartate,Mg-5-Longoral,Monopotassium Aspartate,Monosodium Aspartate,Potassium Aspartate,Sodium Aspartate,Aspartate, Ammonium,Aspartate, Calcium,Aspartate, Dipotassium,Aspartate, Disodium,Aspartate, Magnesium,Aspartate, Monopotassium,Aspartate, Monosodium,Aspartate, Potassium,Aspartate, Sodium,L Aspartate,L Aspartic Acid
D013116	Spinal Cord	A cylindrical column of tissue that lies within the vertebral canal. It is composed of WHITE MATTER and GRAY MATTER.	Coccygeal Cord,Conus Medullaris,Conus Terminalis,Lumbar Cord,Medulla Spinalis,Myelon,Sacral Cord,Thoracic Cord,Coccygeal Cords,Conus Medullari,Conus Terminali,Cord, Coccygeal,Cord, Lumbar,Cord, Sacral,Cord, Spinal,Cord, Thoracic,Cords, Coccygeal,Cords, Lumbar,Cords, Sacral,Cords, Spinal,Cords, Thoracic,Lumbar Cords,Medulla Spinali,Medullari, Conus,Medullaris, Conus,Myelons,Sacral Cords,Spinal Cords,Spinali, Medulla,Spinalis, Medulla,Terminali, Conus,Terminalis, Conus,Thoracic Cords