Expression of NMDA channels on cerebellar Purkinje cells acutely dissociated from newborn rats

C. Rosenmund, P. Legendre, G. L. Westbrook

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

81 Scopus citations

Abstract

1. Conflicting evidence exists concerning the expression and properties of N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors on cerebellar Purkinje cells during development. We used whole-cell and single-channel recording to examine NMDA receptors on acutely dissociated Purkinje cells from newborn rats (postnatal day 0-4). 2. NMDA channels were present on >80% of identified Purkinje cells and had pharmacological and single-channel properties that were indistinguishable from NMDA receptors on other neurons. In particular, responses were glycine-dependent and Mg2+ produced flickery open-channel block. 3. Our results demonstrate the transient expression of NMDA receptor/channels on Purkinje cells early in development. As NMDA receptors have been implicated in developmental plasticity in other regions of the CNS, a similar role is feasible during climbing fiber innervation of Purkinje cells.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)1901-1905
Number of pages5
JournalJournal of neurophysiology
Volume68
Issue number5
DOIs
StatePublished - 1992

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Neuroscience
  • Physiology

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