Referenced in: none

Automatically associated channels: Kir6.2

Title: Alterations in the dendritic morphology of prefrontal pyramidal neurons in adult rats after blockade of NMDA receptors in the postnatal period.

Authors: Krzysztof Wedzony, Katarzyna Fijał, Marzena Maćkowiak

Journal, date & volume: Brain Res., 2005 Nov 16 , 1062, 166-70

PubMed link: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16257395

Abstract
The present study assessed whether the blockade of NMDA receptors in the postnatal period, used to model the symptoms of schizophrenia altered morphology of pyramidal neurons in the medial prefrontal cortex of rats. CGP 40116, an antagonist of NMDA receptors, was given postnatally (days 1-21 after birth). The analysis of the morphology of pyramidal neurons visualized by the Golgi-Cox technique revealed that the exposure to an antagonist of NMDA receptors in the postnatal period diminished the length of basilar dendrites, while that of apical dendrites remained unchanged. The number of dendritic branches and the spine density remained unchanged. It is concluded that the blockade of NMDA receptors in the postnatal period only partially models morphological changes in pyramidal neurons of the medial prefrontal cortex, which are observed in some cases of schizophrenia.