SPONTANEOUS NMDA CHANNEL ACTIVITY IN HIPPOCAMPAL SLICES

自发的NMDA通道活性已经在海马中被报道， 皮质和小脑切片制备。 确切的来源和 引起这种活性的谷氨酸盐的浓度是未知的，因为 就是受体的位置 为了了解NMDA的作用 受体在神经病如癫痫和兴奋性中毒以及 它们在突触可塑性和发育中的作用， 确定这种紧张性激活的机制。 具体而言： 自发性NMDA通道活性与自发性囊泡 突触外谷氨酸在这种活动中起什么作用， 谷氨酸的存在时间和浓度 目前的活动？ 为了回答这些问题，全细胞记录 海马横切片中的锥体神经元将与 借助于红外微分干涉对比视频显微镜。 使用药理学和动力学建模， 将得到解决。

Spontaneous NMDA channel activity has been reported in hippocampal, cortical, and cerebellar slice preparations. The exact source and concentration of the glutamate giving rise to this activity is unknown, as is the location of the receptors. In order to understand the role of NMDA receptors in neuropathies such as epilepsy and excitotoxicty as well as their function in synaptic plasticity and development, it is important to determine the mechanisms of this tonic activation. Specifically: is spontaneous NMDA channel activity associated with spontaneous vesicular release, what role does extrasynaptic glutamate play in this activity, and how long and at what concentration is the glutamate underlying the activity present? To answer these questions, whole cell recordings of pyramidal neurons in transverse hippocampal slices will be taken with the aid of infrared differential interference contrast video microscopy. Using pharmacology and kinetic modeling the specific aims of this proposal will be addressed.