Referenced in: none

Automatically associated channels: Kir6.2

Title: Evidence for two populations of N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors in neonatal rat spinal cord. The effect of peripheral nerve axotomy.

Authors: S Hughes, M B Lowrie, M E Smith

Journal, date & volume: Brain Res. Dev. Brain Res., 1998 Feb 10 , 105, 209-17

PubMed link: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9541739

Abstract
Quantitative autoradiography was used to characterise the binding of the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonist [3H]dizocilpine maleate (MK801) in the white matter and dorsal, intermediate and ventral subregions of the grey matter in the lumbar spinal cord of neonatal rats. The effect on the binding of unilateral sciatic nerve section on the day of birth was examined. In unoperated animals the Bmax and Kd of the binding had decreased in all subregions by two weeks, when the values were similar to those in the adult. After axotomy the Bmax values declined during the first 14 days in all subregions although the density appeared higher in the grey matter in the ventral horn compared to sham operated control. In the axotomised animals, the Kd values for the white matter and ventral horn grey matter had declined by two weeks but in the dorsal and intermediate subregions of the grey matter the values remained elevated. The results are consistent with the presence of two populations of NMDA receptor at birth. In the normal animals the lower affinity receptor disappears in all subregions, but after axotomy it is retained in the dorsal and intermediate subregions for at least 2 weeks.