BACKGROUND Carbon dioxide (CO2) dose-dependently decreases minimum alveolar concentration (MAC) of anaesthetics in rats. CO2 also dose-dependently decreases cerebrospinal fluid pH. N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) channels exhibit pH sensitivity and are putative targets for inhaled anaesthetics. We hypothesized that CO2 dose-dependently decreases rat NMDA channel current via an acidifying effect at ...

We investigated the effects of D-AP7 [D-(-)-2-amino-7-phosphonoheptanoic acid], a specific, potent antagonist of NMDA receptor on certain forms of behavior in control groups of rats and in rats submitted to hypoxia. D-AP7 given intracerebroventrically (icv) at a dose of 5 nmol was tested in the open field test, passive avoidance test and in elevated plus maze test. D-AP7 did not significantly c...

(1S,2R)-1-phenyl-2-[(S)-1-aminopropyl]-N,N-diethylcyclopropanecarboxamide (2b, PPDC), a new class of potent N-methyl-D-aspartic acid (NMDA) receptor antagonist, was designed based on a new method for restricting the conformation of compounds having a cyclopropane ring. The three-dimensional structures of PPDC obtained by the three different methods of X-ray crystallographic analysis, usual MM2-...

In this issue, Papouin et al. show that glycine is the endogenous coagonist for extrasynaptic NMDA receptors (NMDARs), unlike at synapses where the coagonist is d-serine. By enzymatically degrading endogenous glycine, they begin to address the enigmatic physiological and pathological roles for extrasynaptic NMDARs.

Background: Can dicarba bridges (stapling) replace non-covalent interactions that stabilize helical conformation of neuroactive peptides? Result: A rational design, synthesis, structural and functional characterization of stapled conG analogs that target NMDA receptors is reported. Conclusion: Stapled conG analogs are potent antagonists of NMDA receptors and anticonvulsant compounds. Significan...

OBJECTIVE This study sought to determine whether thought disorder induced in healthy volunteers by the N-methyl-D-aspartic acid (NMDA) receptor antagonist ketamine resembles the thought disorder found in patients with schizophrenia. METHOD The Scale for the Assessment of Thought, Language, and Communication was used to assess thought disorder in healthy volunteers (N = 10) who received subane...

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Excitotoxicity is a major mechanism of neuronal damage in cerebral ischemia and is mediated largely by neuronal N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors (NMDAR). This review presents the structural and functional alterations in NMDAR after an ischemic insult, including the antagonistic roles different NMDAR sub-types play in the post-ischemic period. By elucidating these molecular changes and the effects...

OBJECTIVE To determine the presence and kinetics of antibodies against synaptic proteins in patients with herpes simplex virus encephalitis (HSE). METHODS Retrospective analysis of 44 patients with polymerase chain reaction-proven HSE for the presence of a large panel of onconeuronal and synaptic receptor antibodies. The effect of patients' serum was studied in cultures of primary mouse hippo...

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Previous studies reported that Tat-NR2B9c, a peptide disrupting the N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor-postsynaptic density protein-95 interaction, reduced ischemic damage in the acute phase after stroke. However, its effect in the subacute phase is unknown. The aim of this study is to determine whether disrupting the N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor-postsynaptic density protein-...