What question did this study set out to answer?

To determine whether ambient levels of extracellular glutamate produce tonic activation of NMDA receptors and evaluate how this baseline activity influences neuronal excitability.

November 10, 1989Science

Tonic Activation of NMDA Receptors by Ambient Glutamate Enhances Excitability of Neurons

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Authors

PSPankaj SahThe University of Queensland SHShaul HestrinStanford Health Care RNR. A. NicollUniversity of California, San Francisco

Discussion

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Implication

Electrophysiological study demonstrates tonic NMDA receptor activation by ambient glutamate in hippocampal pyramidal cells, indicating enhanced dendritic-to-somatic signal coupling.

Key Points

To determine whether ambient levels of extracellular glutamate produce tonic activation of NMDA receptors and evaluate how this baseline activity influences neuronal excitability.
Conducted voltage clamp recordings on pyramidal cells in hippocampal slices.
Performed noise analysis to detect tonic NMDA receptor activity driven by extracellular glutamate.
Identified persistent tonic activation of NMDA receptors mediated by ambient extracellular glutamate.
Demonstrated that voltage-sensitive tonic NMDA receptor activity confers regenerative electrical properties to pyramidal cells, facilitating the coupling of dendritic excitatory inputs to somatic action potential discharge.

Cite This Study

Sah et al. (1989) studied this question.

synapsesocial.com/papers/6a70305435aa2c282ce17cd9 https://doi.org/10.1126/science.2573153

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Implication

Electrophysiological study demonstrates tonic NMDA receptor activation by ambient glutamate in hippocampal pyramidal cells, indicating enhanced dendritic-to-somatic signal coupling.

Tonic Activation of NMDA Receptors by Ambient Glutamate Enhances Excitability of Neurons

Discussion

Member takes

Implication

Key Points

Cite This Study

Tonic Activation of NMDA Receptors by Ambient Glutamate Enhances Excitability of Neurons

Discussion

Member takes

Implication

Key Points

Cite This Study

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