Y. Fathollahi et M. Salami, The role of N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors in synaptic plasticity of rat visual cortex in vitro: effect of sensory experience, NEUROSCI L, 306(3), 2001, pp. 149-152
We examined the role of N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors in synaptic p
lasticity of visual cortex of light (LR) and dark (DR) reared adult rats in
vitro. Layer IV stimulation resulted in field potentials in layer II/III,
consisting of two excitatory postsynaptic potentials (EPSP) called EPSP1 an
d EPSP2. Tetanic stimulation induced long-term potentiation (LTP) in EPSP2
of both LR and DR visual cortices. NMDA receptor antagonist D, L-2-amino-5-
phosphono-valeric acid (AP5) completely blocked the LTP of EPSP2 in DR visu
al cortex while it reduced slightly the extent of LTP of EPSP2 in LR ones.
Another NMDA receptor antagonist ketamine blocked potentiation of EPSP1 as
well as EPSP2 in both groups. Our findings demonstrate that dependency of L
TP on NMDA receptors and/or sensitivity of these receptors to the antagonis
ts are different in LR and DR animals. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ireland Lt
d. All rights reserved.