Receptor sub-types involved in responses of Purkinje cell to exogenous excitatory amino acids and local electrical stimulation in cerebellar slices in the rat

Cerebellar AMPA/KA receptor antagonism by CNQX inhibits vestibuloocular reflex adaptation

Vestibuloocular reflex (VOR) performance and adaptation have been investigated during antagonism of cerebellar AMPA/quisqualate and kainate receptors (AMPA/KA) by 6-cyano-7-nitroquinoxaline-2,3-dione (CNQX). Injection of CNQX into the vestibulo-cerebellum of the goldfish before adaptation significantly inhibited and, at the highest dosage, completely prevented acquisition of adaptive reflex gain increases and decreases during a 3-h training period. Injection of CNQX before initiation of VOR adaptive training did not affect pre-adapted baseline performance of the reflex. Injection of CNQX, 1 to 2 h after the initiation of training did not alter the performance of adaptive gain increases that occurred before the injection. If injection of CNQX occurred at the end of adaptive training, there was an accelerated loss of the previously adapted gain changes during the retention period when the animal remained stationary in the dark. CNQX injection did not produce any permanent or long-term deficits, because goldfish could be retrained 48 h later to produce adaptive VOR gain changes similar to control animals. Thus, this work demonstrates that the AMPA/KA receptors located in the vestibulo-cerebellum of the goldfish are necessary for acquisition of short-term adaptive VOR gain increases and decreases. The deficit in adaptive capability was not the result of a deficit in performance, because CNQX did not inhibit an adaptive change that had already occurred as long as the adapting vestibular and visual stimulation continued. This adaptive performance could possibly be maintained by other glutamatergic (metabotropic) receptors located on the Purkinje cells. The retention of adapted gain increases and decreases after CNQX application was inhibited because AMPA/KA antagonism accelerated VOR gain loss after the completion of training when no vestibular or visual stimulation was present. Because the AMPA/KA receptors are located only in the molecular layer of the goldfish cerebellum, these results are, presumably, the result of AMPA/KA receptor antagonism at synapses located on the Purkinje cell dendrite tree.

The NOS/sGC pathway in the rat central nervous system: a microdialysis overview

It is now well established that nitric oxide is involved in a variety of physiopathological processes in the central nervous system, which mainly result from the interaction of this gaseous molecule with the heme group of soluble guanylyl cyclase and the elevation of intracellular cGMP in target neurons. During the last decade, several studies have monitored extracellular cGMP, by means of intracerebral microdialysis, to investigate in vivo the functioning and modulation of this neurochemical pathway under different experimental conditions and in various brain regions. In this review, we summarise some of the most relevant results obtained in this research field.

Dual action of the benzodiazepine receptor inverse agonist RU34347 on responses to exogenously applied GABA in the rat cerebellar slice

The benzodiazepine receptor inverse agonist has been shown to produce agonist-like effects at low concentrations. RU34347 has both inverse agonist (attenuation of GABA-responses) and agonist-like (reduction of spontaneous Purkinje cell firing rate) in the cerebellar slice preparation. The benzodiazepine antagonist flumazenil prevented the inverse agonist actions, but only partially reduced the agonist-like effects. Further, brief application of RU34347 to slices mimicked the response to GABA, and pharmacological investigation determined that this action was mediated through increased GABA through action at a site proximal to the parallel fiber-basket cell synapse, at an as yet undetermined receptor.

In vivo studies of the cerebral glutamate receptor/NO/cGMP pathway

Overwhelming evidence indicates that the glutamate/nitric oxide (NO) synthase/soluble guanylyl cyclase system is of primary importance in a variety of physiological and pathological processes of the brain. Most of our knowledge on this neurochemical pathway derives from in vitro and ex vivo studies but the recent improvement of microdialysis techniques combined with extremely sensitive measurements of the amplified end-product cyclic GMP (cGMP) has given new impulses to the investigation of this cascade of events, its modulation by neurotransmitters and its functional relevance, in a living brain. The first reports, appeared in the early 90's, have demonstrated that microdialysis monitoring of cGMP in the extracellular environment of the cerebellum and hippocampus exactly reflects what is expected to occur at the intracellular level; thus, in vivo extracellular cGMP is sensitive to NO-synthase and soluble guanylyl cyclase inhibitors, can be increased by NO-donors or phosphodiesterase blockers and is modulated by glutamate receptor stimulation in a NO-dependent fashion. Since then, other microdialysis studies have been reported showing that the brain NO synthase/guanylyl cyclase pathway is mainly controlled by NMDA, AMPA and metabotropic glutamate receptors but can be also influenced by other transmitters (GABA, acetylcholine, neuropeptides) through polysynaptic circuits interacting with the glutamatergic system. The available data indicate that this technique, applied to freely-moving animals and combined with behavioural tests, could be useful to get a better insight into the functional roles played by NO and cGMP in physiological and pathological situations such as learning, memory formation, epilepsy, cerebral ischemia and neurodegenerative diseases.

Distribution of glutamate receptors GluR 2/3 and NR1 in the developing rat cerebellum

The distribution of glutamate receptors GluR2/3 and NR1 was analysed immunohistochemically during development of the rat cerebellum. GluR2/3 immunoreactivity appeared by postnatal day P0 in somata of Purkinje cells. Throughout P7, P15, P20 and adulthood, GluR2/3 immunoreactivity was found in the entire Purkinje cell dendritic arbor reaching to the external granular layer and, by P15, the surface of the cerebellum. By P7, the granular layer revealed scattered, mildly reactive, cells. NR-1 immunoreactivity first gained prominence about P7 in the region of the multi-layered Purkinje cell somata. By P15, NR1 was prominent in Purkinje cell somata and Golgi cells. The reaction product extended into the primary main dendrite of Purkinje cells. By P21, stellate and basket cells had intense reactivity throughout the molecular layer and reactive large-diameter dendrites of Golgi cells projected toward the molecular layer. Granule cells remained very weak among strongly reactive Golgi cell somata and dendrites. Ultrastructural immunohistochemistry revealed NR1 reaction product in Purkinje cell somata, in stellate cell somata and dendrites and on postsynaptic membranes of scattered spines throughout the molecular layer. The later appearance and restricted location of NR1 in somata and proximal dendrites of Purkinje cells contrasted markedly with GluR2/3 which appeared before birth and remained prominent throughout Purkinje cell dendritic arbors of adults. The time of NR1 expression correlated with the generation of granule cells, their synaptogenesis on Purkinje cells, the formation of stellate/baske cells and the shift of climbing fibre synapses from distal to proximal dendrites. The developmental appearance of stellate/basket cells and Golgi cells as well as their high reactivity remaining into adulthood suggest that these inhibitory molecular and granular layer interneurons are the principal targets of glutamate axons serving NR1 synaptic properties while Purkinje cells and brush type granule cells are targets for glutamate connections with GluR2/3 characteristics.

Overexpression of a functional NMDA receptor subunit (NMDAR1) in baculovirus-infected Trichoplusia ni insect cells

For overexpression of the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor subunit 1b (NMDAR1b), its corresponding cDNA was extended by codons for six histidine residues at the 3'-end, cloned into a baculovirus transfer vector and integrated into the viral genome. Infection of Trichoplusia ni insect cells (High FiveTM cells) with recombinant baculovirus resulted in the production of 126- and 105-kDa NR 1b proteins in the cell membrane fraction. Enzymatic deglycosylation with PNGase F as well as infection of the insect cells in the presence of tunicamycin revealed that the two proteins represented the N-glycosylated and non-glycosylated forms of NMDAR1b, respectively. The recombinant NR1b protein was also identified with immunocytochemical methods employing a monoclonal antibody which recognized the six histidine residues. The affinity of this histidine tag to nickel ions was used for the purification of the NR1b protein. The glycine binding site of the subunit was successfully identified and analyzed with the specific antagonist 5,7-[3-3H]dichlorokynurenate (DCKA). The observed binding characteristics were similar to those obtained for native NMDA receptors. Whereas in electrophysiological measurements a functional NMDA receptor channel could not be found in infected insect cells, its expression was demonstrated in the Xenopus oocyte system after injection of the NMDAR1b cDNA construct.

Electrophysiological and electrochemical responses of NMDA in the cerebellum: interactions with nonadrenergic pathway

In the present experiments, we measured N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA)-induced norepinephrine (NE) release and extracellular action potentials in the cerebellar cortex of urethane-anesthetized rats. The overflow of NE was measured using a Nafion coated-carbon fiber electrode and in vivo chronoamperometry. We found that both NMDA and quisqualate evoked NE release. Our previous work demonstrated that the electrophysiological activity of cerebellar Purkinje neurons could be either excited or inhibited by local NMDA application. It was reported that bicuculline antagonized NMDA-induced inhibition in Purkinje neurons, suggesting that a GABAergic mechanism was activated during NMDA application. We and others previously found that GABA-mediated electrophysiological depressions were enhanced by NE acting via beta-adrenergic receptors while these responses were decreased by activation of alpha-adrenergic receptors. Since NMDA evokes overflow of endogenous NE, the electrophysiological depression induced by NMDA may contain an NE-mediated modulatory component. In this study, we first examined the interaction of NMDA with beta-adrenergic agonist. We found that local application of isoproterenol facilitated NMDA- or GABA-mediated electrophysiological depressions of the Purkinje neurons. Applications of phenoxybenzamine, which antagonized the alpha-adrenergic response of synaptically released NE, also facilitated NMDA-elicited depression. In contrast, the depression induced by GABA, which did not induce NE overflow, was not potentiated by phenoxybenzamine. The facilitation of NMDA-induced depression by phenoxybenzamine was antagonized by the beta-adrenergic antagonist timolol. Taken together, these data suggested that the nonadrenergic pathway is involved in NMDA-induced electrophysiological responses in the cerebellum. NMDA may induce neuronal depression through modulation of GABAergic inhibition via NMDA-evoked NE release onto cerebellar Purkinje neurons.

Distribution of NMDA and AMPA receptors in the cerebellar cortex of rhesus macaques

The distribution of glutamate receptors in the cerebellar cortex of the rhesus macaque was examined by light microscopic immunocytochemistry using an antibody specific to the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) R1 receptor subunit (i.e. NMDAR1) as well as antibodies specific to alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazole propionic acid (AMPA) receptor subunits (i.e. GluR1, GluR2/3, and GluR4). NMDAR1 immunolabeling was most prevalent in the Purkinje cell perikarya and dendrities, but was also significant in the stellate and basket cells of the granular layer and Golgi cells of the molecular layer. On the other hand, GluRl and GluR4 immunolabeling was concentrated principally in the processes of the Bergmann glia located in the vicinity of the Purkinje cell perikarya. Although GluR2/3 immunolabeling also occurred in these Bergmann glia processes as well as in the Bergmann fibers, it was more pronounced in the Purkinje cell perikarya and dendrites; additionally, significant GluR2/3 labeling was evident in the stellate and basket cells of the molecular layer and medium-size soma of the granular layer (most likely Golgi cells). In situ hybridization histochemistry (ISHH), using cRNA probes to NMDAR1. GluR1.GluR2, and GluR3, showed glutamate receptor mRNA distribution patterns consistent with those disclosed in the immunocytochemical study. Furthermore, the ISHH findings suggest that the positive immunocytochemical labeling of Purkinje cells with the GluR2/3 antibody is most likely due to the gene expression of both GluR2 and GluR3 AMPA receptor subtypes. Taken together, the results are potentially important for the elucidation of mechanisms that control aspects of cerebellar function, such as long-term depression.

Biphasic actions of the benzodiazepine receptor inverse agonist RU34347 in the rat cerebellar slice

We have characterised the biphasic response of the benzodiazepine receptor inverse agonist RU34347 in the rat cerebellar slice preparation using extracellular electrophysiological recordings from Purkinje cells. RU34347 (10 fM-10 nM) produced an increase in GABA(A)-mediated inhibition at between 10 fM and 10 nM, a response normally associated with benzodiazepine agonists. This response was biphasic, being dose dependent between 10 fM and the peak effect at 10 pM, and inversely related to concentration between 100 pM and 10 nM. Associated with this increase in inhibition was a decrease in firing rate, also showing a biphasic concentration-response relationship. The agonist-like response was composed of two elements, an initial increase occurring after 5 min followed by a slow decline over the next 20 min. This second, declining, phase was more evident at higher concentrations of RU34347. The peak effect seen at 10 pM was fully antagonised by 1 microM flumazenil, a benzodiazepine receptor antagonist. This concentration of flumazenil also antagonised the decrease in firing rate induced by 10 pM RU34347. The response to 10 nM RU34347 was further characterised since the largest second phase decline was demonstrated at this concentration. 10 nM flumazenil fully antagonised the second, declining, phase of the response, but not the magnitude of the initial increase. A partial antagonism of the peak effect was seen with 1 microM flumazenil, and a full antagonism at 10 microM flumazenil. This effect was similar to that observed with Ro15-4513 in a previous study. Therefore, we investigated the binding of RU34347 to diazepam-insensitive benzodiazepine receptors. [3H]Ro15-4513 was displaced by Ro15-4513, flumazenil and Ro19-4603, but not by RU34347. Therefore, although the electrophysiological data correlate well with that previously reported for Ro15-4513, RU34347 does not displace Ro15-4513 binding at the diazepam-insensitive benzodiazepine receptor. Therefore, either both ligands bind to complimentary sites on the same receptor complex, or both induce a similar physiological response through an action on different receptors.

Reduction of cerebellar GABAA responses by interleukin-1 (IL-1) through an indomethacin insensitive mechanism

Recently, a role of IL-1 in the central nervous system has been described, principally a fever-inducing effect in the hypothalamus through a prostaglandin second messenger system. IL-1 has also been shown to potentiate gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABAA) responses in embryonic chick neurones. This study describes the investigation of the effect of IL-1 on GABAA responses within the in vitro rat cerebellar slice, a preparation containing intact neuronal circuitry. Stimulation of the area of passage of paralleled fibres produced a pure GABAA inhibition of the spontaneous firing of Purkinje cells. 5 and 10 ng/ml IL-1 produced a reduction in the duration of inhibition 10 min after beginning perfusion of IL-1. This effect reversed within 15 min of washing out the IL-1. 10 ng/ml IL-1 also reduced the effects of exogenously-applied GABA (0.1 mM) with the same time course. In the presence of 1 uM indomethacin, there was no change in the effect of the IL-1. It can therefore be concluded that the reduction in cerebellar GABAA responses by IL-1 is not mediated by the indomethacin-sensitive prostaglandin second messenger system.

Continuous exposure of cultured rat cerebellar macroneurons to ethanol-depressed NMDA and KCl-stimulated elevations of intracellular calcium

This series of experiments measured ethanol-induced changes in levels of free intracellular calcium. Cerebellar macroneurons, harvested from rat embryos on embryonic day 17, were cultured in the presence of 75 mM ethanol for 24, 48, or 96 hr. Intracellular calcium concentrations in control and ethanol-exposed neurons did not differ after 24 hr, but they were significantly elevated in the neurons exposed to ethanol for 48 or 96 hr. Similarly, increases in intracellular calcium elicited by stimulation with 50 microM NMDA were not significantly different in control and ethanol-exposed neurons after 24 hr. After 48 and 96 hr, however, NMDA-stimulated increases in intracellular calcium levels in control neurons were significantly greater than in the ethanol-exposed neurons. These results showed that, when calcium levels were elevated by prolonged exposure to ethanol, the neurons were significantly less responsive to NMDA stimulation. Increases in intracellular calcium elicited by stimulation with 30 mM KCI were not significantly different in the control and treated neurons after 24 and 48 hr of ethanol exposure. After 96 hr of exposure to ethanol, however, there was a significant increase in intracellular calcium levels in control neurons following KCI stimulation, but not in the ethanol-exposed neurons. The fact that neuronal responses to KCI stimulation were depressed only following 96 hr of exposure to ethanol makes it unlikely that voltage-regulated channels were the primary mediators of the ethanol-induced elevations in intracellular calcium in chronically exposed neurons.

The distribution of splice variants of the NMDAR1 subunit mRNA in adult rat brain

Regional variation in the alternative splice forms of the NMDAR1 subunit mRNA was investigated by in situ hybridization in the adult rat brain, using radiolabelled splice-specific oligonucleotide probes. Each splice variant was detected in an individual distribution. The NMDAR1-a and NMDAR1-2 forms were widely and abundantly distributed throughout the brain, except for the inferior colliculus. The NMDAR1-b and NMDAR1-4 variants were located in similar patterns in fewer areas (e.g. parietal cortex, hippocampus CA3, thalamus, inferior colliculus, cerebellar granule cells). In contrast, the NMDAR1-1 forms were distributed in a pattern approximately complementary in the forebrain to that of NMDAR1-4 (weakly expressed in thalamus and inferior colliculus). The NMDAR1-3 variants were not abundant in any structure. Considerable overlap of the in situ hybridization images was noted, so all eight splice combinations are possible in heterogenous distributions. Correlation of the distribution of NMDAR1 mRNA splice forms with functional analyses of heteromeric recombinant receptors will be necessary to ascertain if alternative splicing of the NMDAR1 subunit can account for some of the known heterogeneity of endogenous NMDA receptors.

NMDA receptor expression in the mouse cerebellar cortex

A detailed, light microscopic study on the distribution of the N-methyl- D-aspartate receptor subunit 1 (NMDAR1) was carried out with immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization on the cerebellar cortex of the mouse. With a monoclonal antibody, labeling of Purkinje cell bodies varied from intense to negative, while heavy dendritic staining was limited to the proximal dendrites (unlike the rat, which also had heavily stained distal dendrites). In the granular layer, the cell bodies and and the dendritic shafts of Golgi II cells were only moderately stained, but very intense labeling was associated with granule cell bodies, and with their dendrites and dendritic endings in the glomeruli. The mossy and climbing fibers were negative. In situ hybridization with a cRNA probe showed levels and spatial distributions of NMDAR1 mRNA consistent with the immunolabeling pattern, in that signals were strongest in the granular and Purkinje cell layers and relatively low or absent in the molecular layer and white matter. The findings are consistent with the hypothesis that NMDAR1 may be especially well concentrated at the synaptic target sites of the mossy and climbing fibers. In the mouse, NMDAR1 at the parallel fiber sites associated with Purkinje cell spiny branchlets may differ from the rat in its level of expression or in its molecular configuration.

Expression and characterization of the zeta 1 subunit of the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor channel in a baculovirus system

Using a baculovirus expression vector system, the zeta 1 subunit of the mouse N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor channel was expressed in Spodoptera frugiperda insect cells. The peptide corresponding to the C-terminus of the zeta 1 subunit was synthesized by using the multiple antigen peptide (MAP) system, and an antibody to the synthetic peptide was produced. Immunoblotting using the newly developed antibody revealed the major 122-kDa and the minor 104-kDa protein bands. The effect of tunicamycin on the immunoblots and [35S]methionine/[35S]cysteine metabolic radiolabeling suggested that the two bands corresponded to glycosylated and non-N-glycosylated forms, respectively. Membranes prepared from insect cells infected with the recombinant virus had the binding activity of antagonist ligand 5,7-[3-3H]dichlorokynurenate (DCKA) of a glycine recognition domain of the receptor. Both immunofluorescence labeling and the [3H]DCKA binding assays also showed a greater level of expression (Bmax = 51 pmol/mg protein) in the insect cells. The ligand binding characteristics of the receptors expressed in insect cells suggested that the single zeta 1 subunit protein has glycine antagonist binding properties comparable to those of the native NMDA receptor channels. The lack of DCKA-binding activity of the non-N-glycosylated NMDA receptor expressed in the presence of tunicamycin suggested that N-linked oligosaccharide is essentially required for expression of a functional receptor in insect cells. This is the first report describing the importance of N-glycosylation for the acquisition of ligand binding to NMDA receptor channel subunit protein.

Different functional effect of Ro 15-4513 and Ro 19-4603 on synaptic responses of Purkinje cells in the rat cerebellar slice

Modulation of GABA-mediated neurotransmissions by Ro 15-4513 in cerebellar slices was assessed following stimulation of the parallel fibre input, which, in this preparation, preferentially activates the inhibitory interneurones innervating Purkinje cells. Peristimulus-time histogram analysis of inhibitory responses of spontaneously-active Purkinje cells showed only a decrease in the duration of inhibition induced by Ro 19-4603. This is consistent with inverse agonism on the BZ1 receptors associated with postsynaptic GABAA receptors on Purkinje cells. 1 microM Ro 15-4513 induced a similar response but 100 nM Ro 15-4513 induced a biphasic response, with an increase in duration of inhibition preceding the decrease during continued perfusion of the compound. At lower concentrations of Ro 15-4513 the increase in inhibition predominated, the minimal effective concentration being 10 pM. 1 microM flumazenil blocked both components of this response to 100 nM Ro 15-4513, but at 100 nM flumazenil only blocked the decrease in inhibition. The ability of Ro 15-4513 but not Ro 19-4603 to enhance inhibition and its relative insensitivity to 100 nM flumazenil, parallel the affinities of these compounds for diazepam-insensitive (DI) binding sites in the cerebellum. These data suggest that the enhancement of inhibition induced by Ro 15-4513 results from its inverse agonist activity on DI receptors causing disinhibition of both granule cells and their parallel fibres and increased sensitivity to the electrical stimuli inducing activation of the inhibitory interneurones innervating Purkinje cells.

Ligand affinities at recombinant N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors depend on subunit composition

The ligand preferences of recombinant NR1 homomeric and NR1-NR2 heteromeric NMDA receptors were examined by homogenate binding assay. The binding affinities for most ligands were similar to those reported for native NMDA receptors. The order of affinity for [3H]glutamate was NR1-NR2B > NR1-NR2A approximately NR1-NR2D > NR1-NR2C > NR1. NMDA had approximately equal affinity for all heteromeric types (Ki approximately 5 microM), but the competitive antagonists CGS 19755 (cis-4-(phosphonomethyl)piperidine-2-carboxylic acid) and CGP 39653 (D,L-(E)-2-amino-4-propyl-5-phosphono-3-pentenoic acid) displayed the affinity order NR1-NR2A > NR1-NR2B > NR1-NR2D > NR1-NR2C. Binding of [3H]CGP 39653 could only be detected at the NR1-NR2A receptor type (Kd approximately 6 nM). The glycine site antagonist [3H]5,7-dichlorokynurenate bound with good affinity to all recombinant receptors (Kd approximately 50-100 nM), while glycine exhibited an affinity order of NR1-NR2C >> NR1 = NR1-NR2B = NR1-NR2D > NR1-NR2A. The channel-site ligand [3H]MK 801 ((+)-5-methyl-10,11-dihydro-5H- dibenzo[a,d]cyclo-hepten-5,10-imine hydrogen maleate) showed the affinity ranking NR1-NR2A = NR1-NR2B >> NR1 > NR1-NR2C = NR1-NR2D. Thus the ligand binding affinities of recombinant NMDA receptors is dependent on their subunit composition. The NR1-NR2A, NR1-NR2B, NR1-NR2C and NR1-NR2D receptors may account for the antagonist-preferring, agonist-preferring, cerebellar, and medial thalamic subtypes of native NMDA receptors, respectively.

Cholinergic modulation of spontaneous activity in rat dorsal cochlear nucleus

Extracellular recordings were made from brain stem slices to test the effects of bath application of cholinergic agonists and antagonists on the firing rates of spontaneously active dorsal cochlear nucleus neurons. About 90% of neurons responded to carbachol. A higher proportion responded to muscarine than to nicotine. Muscarine elicited larger responses at lower concentrations than nicotine. Responses to either carbachol or muscarine were always blocked by atropine or scopolamine. The nicotinic antagonists d-tubocurarine, hexamethonium, and mecamylamine blocked the responses to nicotine, but did not decrease the responses to carbachol. Regularly firing neurons showed only increases of firing rate during exposure to cholinergic agonists. About half of responsive bursting neurons showed increased firing; half showed increased followed by decreased firing to 10 microM carbachol or muscarine. All phases of the responses of most bursting neurons were greatly decreased or abolished in low calcium, high magnesium medium, while responses of regular neurons were not detectably affected. Thus, cholinergic agonists appear to act directly on regularly firing neurons, while their actions on bursting neurons may require synaptic activity. The data suggest that cholinergic transmission in the dorsal cochlear nucleus is predominantly muscarinic, and that most regularly firing spontaneously active neurons have muscarinic receptors.

Involvement of the N-methyl D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor in synapse elimination during cerebellar development

In many instances, the establishment of highly specific neuronal connections during development results from the rearrangement of axonal projections through the trimming of exuberant collaterals or the elimination of functional synapses or both. Although the involvement of the N-methyl D-aspartate (NMDA) subtype of the glutamate receptor has been demonstrated in the shaping of axonal arbors, its participation in the process of selective stabilization of synapses remains an open issue. In this study, the effects of chronic in vivo application of D,L-2-amino-5-phosphonovaleric acid (D,L-APV), a selective antagonist of the NMDA receptor, on the synapse elimination process that takes place in the developing cerebellum of the rat have been analyzed. D,L-APV treatment prevented the regression of supernumerary climbing fiber synapses in 49 percent of the recorded Purkinje cells, while the inactive isomer L-APV was ineffective. Thus, activation of the NMDA receptor is a critical step in the regression of functional synapses during development.

Modulation of GABA-mediated inhibition in rat cerebellar slices by benzodiazepine receptor ligands

1. Extracellular recordings were made from the Purkinje cell layer of rat cerebellar slices. Compounds were perfused over the slice and bipolar stimulating electrodes placed in the external layer of the slice close to the recording electrode. 2. Stimulus-evoked inhibition of Purkinje layer cell activity was sensitive to bicuculline methiodide and picrotoxin, suggesting it was gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) mediated. The benzodiazepine ligands RU 32007 and Ro 19-0528 reversibly increased the period of inhibition, as did pentobarbital. This benzodiazepine effect was antagonised by Ro 15-1788. 3. Five inverse agonists all reduced the period of stimulated inhibition and this effect was reversed by Ro 15-1788, suggesting the involvement of benzodiazepine receptors. 4. It is concluded that this system provides a convenient physiological and possibly quantitative model for studying the action of benzodiazepine receptor ligands.