Glutamatergic system stimulationthe nucleus accumbens shell, may affect anxiety-related behaviors, aversive learning and memory. Glutamate receptors are differentially distributed in preand postsynaptic sites contributing to neuronal communications.The present study aimed to examine the possible involvement of the NAc shell presynaptic NMDA receptors on NMDA induced responses, using the elevate...

BCL-2 family proteins are known to regulate cell death during development by influencing the permeability of mitochondrial membranes. The anti-apoptotic BCL-2 family protein BCL-xL is highly expressed in the adult brain and localizes to mitochondria in the presynaptic terminal of the adult squid stellate ganglion. Application of recombinant BCL-xL through a patch pipette to mitochondria inside ...

The voltage-gated K(+) channel Kv1.3 has been reported to regulate transmitter release in select central and peripheral neurons. In this study, we evaluated its role at the synapse between visceral sensory afferents and secondary neurons in the nucleus of the solitary tract (NTS). We identified mRNA and protein for Kv1.3 in rat nodose ganglia using RT-PCR and Western blot analysis. In immunohis...

The increased appreciation of electrical coupling between neurons has led to many studies examining the role of gap junctions in synaptic and network activity. Although the gap junctional blocker carbenoxolone (CBX) is effective in reducing electrical coupling, it may have other actions as well. To study the non-gap junctional effects of CBX on synaptic transmission, we recorded from mouse hipp...

Neurones of the olfactory bulb are innervated by GABA-releasing axons and dendrites of diverse origin. Here, I studied GABAergic neurotransmission in juxtaglomerular cells using whole-cell voltage-clamp recordings in acute olfactory bulb slices. Spontaneous IPSCs were fully blocked by the GABA(A) receptor antagonist SR95531 (40 microM) and the sodium channel blocker tetrodotoxin (1 microM). The...

Dextromethorphan, a noncompetitive blocker of the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) type of glutamate receptor, at 45, 60 and 75 mg/kg, ip doses induced a behavioural syndrome characterised by reciprocal forepaw treading, lateral head-weaving, hind-limb abduction and flat body posture. Such type of behavioural syndrome is induced by 8-hydroxy-2- (di-n-propylamino) tetralin (8-OH-DPAT) by directly sti...

(2007) Felbamate but not phenytoin or gabapentin reduces glutamate release by blocking presynaptic NMDA receptors in the entorhinal cortex. This version is made available in accordance with publisher policies. Please cite only the published version using the reference above. Summary We have shown that a number of anticonvulsant drugs can reduce glutamate release at synapses in the rat entorhina...

The presynaptic and postsynaptic properties of synapses change over the course of postnatal development. Therefore, synaptic plasticity mechanisms would be expected to adapt to these changes to facilitate alterations of synaptic strength throughout ontogeny. Here, we identified developmental changes in long-term depression (LTD) mediated by group 1 metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGluRs) and ...

Blockade of synaptic activity induces homeostatic plasticity, in part by stimulating synthesis of all-trans retinoic acid (RA), which in turn increases AMPA receptor synthesis. However, the synaptic signal that triggers RA synthesis remained unknown. Using multiple activity-blockade protocols that induce homeostatic synaptic plasticity, here we show that RA synthesis is activated whenever posts...

Voltage-dependent amplification of ionotropic glutamatergic excitatory postsynaptic potentials (EPSPs) can, in many vertebrate neurons, be due either to the intrinsic voltage dependence of N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors, or voltage-dependent persistent sodium channels expressed on postsynaptic dendrites or somata. In the electrosensory lateral line lobe (ELL) of the gymnotiform fish Apte...