Abstract
The subfornical organ (SFO) plays an important role in central regulation of the autonomic nervous system. The synaptic transmission properties of neurons in the SFO were studied with intracellular and whole-cell patch clamp recordings in the rat slice preparations. Both the spontaneous and evoked excitatory postsynaptic potentials (EPSPs) and currents (EPSCs) were almost completely suppressed by the glutamate receptor antagonist kynurenic acid and the non-NMDA (N-methyl-D-aspartic acid) antagonist CNQX. The non-NMDA agonist kainic acid depolarized the membrane most potently, compared with NMDA and quisqualic acid. These suggest that glutamate is a main excitatory neurotransmitter in the SFO and that its action is at least partly mediated through non-NMDA receptors.
Publication types
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
MeSH terms
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Afferent Pathways / cytology
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Afferent Pathways / drug effects*
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Afferent Pathways / metabolism*
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Animals
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Excitatory Amino Acid Antagonists / pharmacology
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Excitatory Postsynaptic Potentials / drug effects
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Excitatory Postsynaptic Potentials / physiology
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GABA Antagonists / pharmacology
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Glutamic Acid / metabolism*
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In Vitro Techniques
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Male
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Neurons / cytology
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Neurons / drug effects*
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Neurons / metabolism*
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Patch-Clamp Techniques
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Rats
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Rats, Wistar
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Receptors, Glutamate / drug effects*
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Receptors, Glutamate / metabolism*
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Subfornical Organ / cytology
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Subfornical Organ / drug effects*
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Subfornical Organ / metabolism*
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Synapses / metabolism*
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Synapses / ultrastructure
Substances
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Excitatory Amino Acid Antagonists
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GABA Antagonists
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Receptors, Glutamate
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Glutamic Acid