Ma. Haxhiu et al., THE N-METHYL-D-ASPARTATE RECEPTOR PATHWAY IS INVOLVED IN HYPOXIA-INDUCED C-FOS PROTEIN EXPRESSION IN THE RAT NUCLEUS OF THE SOLITARY TRACT, Journal of the autonomic nervous system, 55(1-2), 1995, pp. 65-68
Immediate early genes, like c-fos, are believed to be involved in trig
gering the expression of other genes such as those involved in the syn
thesis of neurochemicals. Exposure of unanesthetized rats to oxygen de
privation induces activation of the c-fos gene within the nucleus trac
tus solitarius, resulting in expression of fos-like immunoreactive pro
tein (Fos). Prior administration of MK-801, a nonselective antagonist
of the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA)-sensitive glutamate receptor (1 or
2 mg/kg), significantly attenuated but did not completely block hypoxi
a-induced Fos expression. However, blockade of muscarinic receptors by
atropine sulfate (2, 10 or 25 mg/kg) had no measurable effects on Fos
expression induced by oxygen deprivation. These results suggest that
an NMDA receptor signalling pathway is partly involved in programming
the expression of early response genes that regulate various aspects o
f the response to oxygen deprivation.