Journal
BRAIN RESEARCH
Volume 1603, Issue -, Pages 1-7Publisher
ELSEVIER SCIENCE BV
DOI: 10.1016/j.brainres.2015.01.041
Keywords
Whole-cell recording; Brain slice; MK-801; DQP-1105; Synaptic; Extrasynaptic
Categories
Funding
- Veterans Affairs Merit Grant [0383]
- Parkinson's Disease Research, Education and Clinical Center at Veterans Affairs Portland Health Care System
Ask authors/readers for more resources
Recent studies suggest that selective block of extrasynaptic N-methyl-o-aspartate (NMDA) receptors might protect against neurodegeneration. We recorded whole-cell currents with patch pipettes to characterize the ability of memantine, a low-affinity NMDA channel blocker, to block synaptic and extrasynaptic NMDA receptors in substantia nigra zona compacta (SNC) dopamine neurons in slices of rat brain. Pharmacologically isolated NMDA receptor-mediated EPSCs were evoked by electrical stimulation, whereas synaptic and extrasynaptic receptors were activated by superfusing the slice with NMDA (10 mu M). Memantine was 15-fold more potent for blocking currents evoked by bath-applied NMDA compared to synaptic NMDA receptors. Increased potency for blocking bath-applied NMDA currents was shared by the GluN2C/GluN2D noncompetitive antagonist DQP-1105 but not by the high-affinity channel blocker MK-801. Our data suggest that memantine causes a selective block of extrasynaptic NMDA receptors that are likely to contain GluN2C/2D subunits. Our results justify further investigations on the use of memantine as a neuroprotective agent in Parkinson's disease. Published by Elsevier B.V.
Authors
I am an author on this paper
Click your name to claim this paper and add it to your profile.
Reviews
Recommended
No Data Available