NMDA, kainate, and AMPA depolarize nondopamine neurons in the rat ventral tegmentum

Ting Wang, Edward D. French

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

40 Scopus citations

Abstract

The possible existence of N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) and non-NMDA receptors on electrophysiologically identified nondopamine neurones in the ventral tegmental area (VTA) was tested in rat midbrain slice preparations. NMDA, kainate (KA), and AMPA (α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazole propionic acid) depolarized the membrane potential of nondopamine neurons in a dose-dependent manner. The NMDA effect was blocked by the selective NMDA receptor antagonist, CGS 19755 (cis-4-phosphonomethyl-2-piperidine carboxylate), but not by the non-NMDA receptor antagonist, NBOX [2,3-dihydroxy-6-nitro-7-sulfamoyl-benzo(F)quinoxaline]. In contrast, the effects of KA and AMPA were antagonized by NBOX, but not by CGS 19755. The rank order potency of the three agonists was AMPA > KA > NMDA, with thresholds of 0.1, 0.3, and 3 μM, respectively. These results provide clear electrophysiological evidence that nondopamine neurons in the ventral tegmental area possess both NMDA and non-NMDA receptors.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)39-43
Number of pages5
JournalBrain Research Bulletin
Volume36
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - 1995

Keywords

  • AMPA
  • Brain slice
  • Electrophysiology
  • Kainic acid
  • N-Methyl-d-aspartate
  • Ventral tegmental area

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Neuroscience

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