Non-NMDA receptors mediate sensory afferent synaptic transmission in medial nucleus tractus solitarius

M. C. Andresen, M. Yang

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

196 Scopus citations

Abstract

Indirect evidence suggests that excitatory amino acids (EAA) are involved in synaptic transmission of visceral afferents at their synapses within the nucleus tractus solitarius (NTS). Little is known about the identity of the postsynaptic receptors or response mechanisms. Here we report results from a longitudinal brain slice of the rat medulla. Intracellular recordings were made from neurons in delimited portions of the dorsal medial NTS (mNTS) known to receive baroreceptor inputs. Stimulation of the solitary tract 1-3 mm from the mNTS recording site evoked short (2 ms) latency excitatory postsynaptic potentials (EPSPs), which had durations of 40-50 ms. Addition of the non-N-methyl-D-aspartate (non-NMDA) selective antagonist 6-cyano-7-nitro-quinoxaline-2,3-dione (CNQX) to the slice surface near the recording electrode resulted in a rapid (within 30-45 s) suppression of the EPSP. Complete EPSP blockade was only slowly reversed by drug-free saline. Concentration-response relations (n = 14) showed 50% depression of EPSPs by surface concentrations of 1-10 μM CNQX. EPSP amplitude was resistant to the selective NMDA antagonist 2-amino-5-phosphonovalerate (AP 5) and, on average, was reduced <20% at 100 μM AP 5, an effect that was not statistically significant (n = 10; P > 0.05). In conclusion, this study offers the first direct evidence that EAAs mediate the primary events of afferent synaptic transmission in NTS. The experiments suggest that excitatory sensory afferent synaptic transmission to mNTS neurons is mediated by an EAA transmitter acting at non-NMDA receptors, but NMDA receptors may have a modulatory role.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)H1307-H1311
JournalAmerican Journal of Physiology - Heart and Circulatory Physiology
Volume259
Issue number4 28-4
DOIs
StatePublished - 1990
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • 2-amino-5- phosphovalerate
  • 6-cyano-7-nitroquinoxaline-2,3-dione
  • N-methyl-D-aspartate
  • baroreceptors
  • baroreflex
  • excitatory amino acids

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Physiology
  • Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine
  • Physiology (medical)

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