• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• 제50권5호
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• pp.420-425
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• 2011

Objective : Excitatory amino acids play important roles in the development of secondary pathology following spinal cord injury (SCI). This study was designed to evaluate morphological changes in the dorsal horn of the spinal cord and assess profiles of pain behaviors following intraspinal injection of N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) or quisqualate (QUIS) in rats. Methods : Forty male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomized into three groups : a sham, and two experimental groups receiving injections of 125 mM NMDA or QUIS into their spinal dorsal horn. Following injection, hypersensitivity to cold and mechanical stimuli, and excessive grooming behaviors were assessed serially for four weeks. At the end of survival periods, morphological changes in the spinal cord were evaluated. Results : Cold allodynia was developed in both the NMDA and QUIS groups, which was significantly higher in the QUIS group than in the NMDA group. The mechanical threshold for the ipsilateral hind paw in both QUIS and NMDA groups was significantly lower than that in the control group. The number of groomers was significantly higher in the NMDA group than in the QUIS group. The size of the neck region of the spinal dorsal horn, but not the superficial layer, was significantly smaller in the NMDA and QUIS groups than in the control group. Conclusion : Intraspinal injection of NMDA or QUIS can be used as an excitotoxic model of SCI for further research on spinal neuropathic pain.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• 제30권3호
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• pp.232-237
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• 2022

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) having core characteristics of social interaction problems and repetitive behaviors and interests affects individuals at varying degrees and comorbidities, making it difficult to determine the precise etiology underlying the symptoms. Given its heterogeneity, ASD is difficult to treat and the development of therapeutics is slow due to the scarcity of animal models that are easy to produce and screen with. Based on the theory of excitation/inhibition imbalance in the brain with ASD which involves glutamatergic and/or GABAergic neurotransmission, a pharmacologic agent to modulate these receptors might be a good starting point for modeling. N-methyl-D-aspartic acid (NMDA) is an amino acid derivative acting as a specific agonist at the NMDA receptor and therefore imitates the action of the neurotransmitter glutamate on that receptor. In contrast to glutamate, NMDA selectively binds to and regulates the NMDA receptor, but not other glutamate receptors such as AMPA and kainite receptors. Given this role, we aimed to determine whether NMDA administration could result in autistic-like behavior in adolescent mice. Both male and female mice were treated with saline or NMDA (50 and 75 mg/kg) and were tested on various behavior experiments. Interestingly, acute NMDA-treated mice showed social deficits and repetitive behavior similar to ASD phenotypes. These results support the excitation/inhibition imbalance theory of ASD and that NMDA injection can be used as a pharmacologic model of ASD-like behaviors.

• 대한기계학회논문집A
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• 제28권12호
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• pp.1990-1996
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• 2004

This paper presents a nonlinearly modulated digital actuator (NMDA) for producing nano-precision digital stroke. The NMDA, composed of a digital microactuator and a nonlinear micromechanical modulator, purifies the stroke of the digital actuator in order to generate the high-precision displacement output required for nano-positioning devices. The function and concept of the nonlinear micromechanical modulator are equivalent to those of the nonlinear electrical limiters. The linear and nonlinear modulators, having an identical input and output strokes of 15.2${\mu}{\textrm}{m}$ and 5.4${\mu}{\textrm}{m}$, are designed, fabricated and tested, respectively. The linear and nonlinear modulators are linked to identical digital actuators in order to compare the characteristics of the linearly modulated microactuator (LMDA) and NMDA. In addition, an identical linear modulator is attached to the output ports of LMDA and NMDA. The NMDA shows the repeatability of 12.3$\pm$2.9nm, superior to that of 27.8$\pm$2.9nm achieved by LMDA. When the identical linear modulator is connected to LMDA and NMDA, the final modulated output from NMDA shows the repeatability of 10.3$\pm$7.2nm, superior to that of 15.7$\pm$7.7nm from LMDA. We experimentally verify the displacement purifying capability of the nonlinear mechanical modulator, applicable to nano-precision positioning devices and systems.

• 대한본초학회지
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• 제20권4호
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• pp.121-132
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• 2005

Objectives : Siegesbeckiae Herba's effect on the protection of nerve cells was tested, and the effects were compared between Siegesbeckia glabrescens Makino, the state of which is spica imported from China, and original Korean leaves of it. Methods : After damaging nerve cells by exposing them on NMDA (N-methyl-D-aspartic acid) and KA(kainic acid), Siegesbeckiae Herba's effect on cell death, inhibition rate, glutamate separation, and ROS(reactive oxygen species) production were examined. Results : 1. Siegesbeckiae Herba inhibited the cell death exposed to NMDA. 2. Siegesbeckiae Herba inhibited the amount of glutamate separated from nerve cells exposed to NMDA. 3. Siegesbeckiae Herba inhibited the production of ROS induced by NMDA. 4. Siegesbeckiae Herba did not inhibit the cell death exposed to KA. 5. Chinese Siegesbeckiae Spica had no inhibition effect on cell death. Conclusions : Siegesbeckiae Herba was effective in inhibiting the death of nerve cells exposed to NMDA, and in protecting nerve cells from various damages in nerve cell diseases. Because Chinese Siegesbeckiae Spica did not show such effects, it is necessary to closely examine those effects according to the used parts.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• 제2권4호
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• pp.427-433
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• 1998

In brain hypoxic-ischemia, an excess release of glutamate and a marked production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) occur in neuronal and non-neuronal cells. The present study investigated the effect of the biological antioxidants dihydrolipoic acid (DHLA) and lipoic acid (LA) on N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA)- and ROS-induced neurotoxicity in cultured rat cortical neurons. DHLA enhanced NMDA-evoked rises in intracellular calcium concentration ($[Ca^{2+}]_i$). In contrast, LA did not alter the NMDA-evoked calcium responses but decreased after a brief treatment of dithiothreitol (DTT), which possesses a strong reducing potential. Despite the modulation of NMDA receptor-mediated rises in $[Ca^{2+}]_i$, neither DHLA nor LA altered the NMDA receptor-mediated neurotoxicity, as assessed by measuring the amount of lactate dehydrogenase released from dead or injured cells. DHLA, but not LA, prevented the neurotoxicity induced by xanthine/xanthine oxidase-generated superoxide radicals. Both DHLA and LA decreased the glutathione depletion-induced neurotoxicity. The present data may indicate that biological antioxidants DHLA and LA protect neurons from ischemic injuries via scavenging oxygen free radicals rather than modulating the redox modulatory site(s) of NMDA receptor.

• 한국안광학회지
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• 제18권4호
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• pp.533-540
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• 2013

목적: 본 연구에서는 발생 중[태어난 지 5일(P5), 10일(P10)] 마우스 망막의 ON-OFF 방향특이성 신경절세포 수상돌기 상에서 NMDA R1 수용체의 시냅스 패턴을 연구하고자 하였다. 방법: ON-OFF 방향특이성 신경절세포는 Lucifer yellow를 주사하여 형태학적 특징으로 동정하였다. 이극세포로부터의 글루타메이트의 흥분성 유입을 확인하기 위해 membrane traffic motor 단백질 마커인 kinesin을 이용하였다. 결과: 본 연구에서 P5, P10의 ON-OFF 방향특이성 신경절세포를 동정할 수 있었으며, NMDA R1의 면역반응반점은 내망상층에서 강하게 나타났다. ON-OFF 방향특이성 신경절세포의 수상돌기상의 수용체의 분포패턴에서 방향특이성을 예측할 수 있는 어떠한 비대칭성도 발견하지 못하였다. 결론: 이극세포로부터의 글루타메이트성 자극유입은 P5, P10 단계에서 모두 균형적으로 유입되며, 방향특이성은 NMDA R1 수용체의 특이적인 패턴에 있지 않음을 밝혔다.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• 제29권11호
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• pp.1429-1436
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• 2000

Objectives : This study was performed in cultured rat hippocampal neurons to investigate the acute electrophysiological features of ionotropic glutamate receptors which act as a major excitatory neurotransmitter in mammalian brain. Method : Glutamate receptor agonists were applied into the bath solution embedding in whole-cell patch-clamp recording of single hippocampal neuron. Results : In voltage-clamped at -60mV and the presence of 1mmol $Mg^{2+}$, extracellulary applied NMDA did not induce any inward current. Both the elimination of $Mg^{2+}$ and addition of glycine in bath, however, elicited a NMDAinduced inward current. $Mg^{2+}$ block current was increased gradually in more negative potentials from -30mV, showing a negative slope in I-V plot with $Mg^{2+}$. Glutamate-induced current represented an outward rectification. A non-NMDA receptor component occupied about 40% of glutamate-induced current in the voltage range of -80mV to +60mV. Conclusion : Present study suggests that glutamate activates acutely the non-NMDA receptors which induces an inward current in the level of resting membrane potential. This makes the membrane potential increase and can activate the NMDA receptors that permit calcium influx against $Mg^{2+}$ block. At the depolarized state of neuron, there may be recovery mechanisms of membrane potential to repolarize irrespective of voltage-dependent potassium channels in the hippocampal neurons.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• 제9권3호
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• pp.179-186
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• 2005

Whole bee venom (WBV) and its major component, melittin, have been reported to induce long-lasting spontaneous flinchings and hyperalgesia. The current study was designed to elucidate the peripheral and spinal mechanisms of N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) and non-NMDA receptors by which intraplantar (i.pl.) injection of WBV and melittin induced nociceptive responses. Changes in mechanical threshold and flinching behaviors were measured after the injection of WBV (0.04 mg or 0.1 mg/paw) and melittin (0.02 mg or 0.05 mg/paw) into the mid-plantar area of a rat hindpaw. MK-801 and CNQX (6-cyano-7-nitroquinoxaline-2,3-dione disodium) were administered intrathecally (i.t. $10{\mu}g$) or i.pl.($15{\mu}g$) 15 min before or i.t. 60 min after i.pl. WBV and melittin injection. Intrathecal pre- and postadministration of MK-801 and CNQX significantly attenuated the ability of high dose WBV and melittin to reduce paw withdrawal threshold (PWT). In the rat injected with low dose, but not high dose, of WBV and melittin, i.pl. injection of MK-801 effectively suppressed the decrease of PWTs only at the later time-points, but the inhibitory effect of CNQX (i.pl.) was significant at all time-point after the injection of low dose melittin. High dose WBV- and melittin-induced spontaneous flinchings were significantly suppressed by i.t. administration of MK-801 and CNQX, and low dose WBV- and melittin-induced flinchings were significantly reduced only by intraplantarly administered CNQX, but not by MK-801. These experimental flinchings suggest that spinal, and partial peripheral mechanisms of NMDA and non-NMDA receptors are involved in the development and maintenance of WBV- and melittin-induced nociceptive responses.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• 제8권6호
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• pp.301-305
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• 2004

This study examined the effects of N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA), ${\alpha}-amino$-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazole propionic acid (AMPA) and kainate on basal and electrically-evoked release of acetylcholine (ACh) from the rat hippocampal and striatal slices which were preincubated with $[^3H]choline$. Unexpectedly, the basal and evoked ACh release were not affected at all by the treatment with NMDA $(3{\sim}100{\mu}M)$, AMPA $(1{\sim}100{\mu}M)$ or kainate $(1{\sim}100{\mu}M)$ in hippocampal slices. However, in striatal slices, under the $Mg^{2+}-free$ medium, $30{\mu}M$ NMDA increased the basal ACh release with significant decrease of the electrically-evoked releases. The treatment with $1{\mu}M MK-801 not only reversed the $30{\mu}M$ NMDA-induced decrease of the evoked ACh release, but also attenuated the facilitatory effect of $30\;{\mu}M$ NMDA on the basal ACh release. The treatment with either $30\;{\mu}M$ AMPA or $100\;{\mu}M$ kainate increased the basal ACh release without any effects on the evoked release. The treatment with $10{\mu}M$ NBQX abolished the AMPA- or kainate-induced increase of the basal ACh release. Interestingly, NBQX significantly attenuated the evoked release when it was treated with AMPA, although it did not affect the evoked release alone without AMPA. These observations demonstrate that in hippocampal slices, ionotropic glutamate receptors do not modulate the ACh release in cholinergic terminals, whereas in striatal slices, activations of ionotropic glutamate receptors increase the basal ACh release though NMDA may decrease the electrically-evoked ACh release.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• 제20권1호
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• pp.7-12
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• 1997

Glutamate uptake inhibitor, L-trans-pyrrolidine-2, 4-dicarboxylate (PDC, $20{\mu}M$) elevated basal and N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA, $100{\mu}M$)-induced extracellular glutamate accumulation, while it did not augment kainate $100{\mu}M$-induced glutamate accumulation in cultured cerebellar granule neurons. However, pretreatment with PDC for 1 h significantly reduced NMDA-induced glutamate accumulation, but did not affect kainate-induced response. Pretreatment with glutamate $(5{\mu}M)$ for 1 h also reduced NMDA-induced glutamate accumulation, but did not kainate-induced response. Upon a brief application (3-10 min), PDC did neither induce elevation of intracellular calcium concentration $([Ca^{2+}]_i)$ nor modulate NMDA-indLiced $[Ca^{2+}]_1$ elevation. Pretreatment with PDC for 1 h reduced NMDA-induced $[Ca^{2+}]_1$ elevation, but it did not reduce kainate-induced $[Ca^{2+}]_1$ elevation. These results suggest that glutamate concentration in synaptic clefts of neurana cells is increased by prolonged exposure (1 h) of the cells to PDC, and the accumulated glutamate subsequently induces selective desensitization of NMDA receptor.