Neuronal and glial localization of NR1 and NR2A/B subunits of the NMDA receptor in the human cerebral cortex

N-Methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors play a critical role in many cortical functions and are implicated in several neuropsychiatric diseases. In this study, the cellular expression of the NMDAR1 (NR1) and NMDAR2A and B (NR2A and B) subunits was investigated in the human cerebral cortex by immunocytochemistry with antibodies that recognize the NR1 or the NR2A and B subunits of the NMDA receptor. In frontal (areas 10 and 46) and temporal (area 21) association cortices and the cingulofrontal transition cortex (area 32), NR1 and NR2A/B immunoreactivity (ir) were similar and were localized to numerous neurons in all cortical layers. NR1- and NR2A/B-positive neurons were mostly pyramidal cells, but some nonpyramidal neurons were also labeled. Electron-microscopic observations showed that NR1 and NR2A/B ir were similar. In all cases, labeling of dendrites and dendritic spines was intense. In addition, both NR1 and NR2A/B were consistently found in the axoplasm of some axon terminals and in distal astrocytic processes. This investigation revealed that numerous NMDA receptors are localized to dendritic spines, and that they are also localized to axon terminals and astrocytic processes. These findings suggest that the effects of cortical NMDA activation in the human cortex do not depend exclusively on the opening of NMDA channels located at postsynaptic sites, and that the localization of NMDA receptors is similar in a variety of mammalian species.     

NMDA receptor blockade alters stress-induced dendritic remodeling in medial prefrontal cortex

The development and relapse of many psychopathologies can be linked to both stress and prefrontal cortex dysfunction. Glucocorticoid stress hormones target medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) and either chronic stress or chronic administration of glucocorticoids produces dendritic remodeling in prefrontal pyramidal neurons. Exposure to stress also causes an increase in the release of the excitatory amino acid glutamate, which binds to N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors, which are plentiful in mPFC. NMDA receptor activation is crucial for producing hippocampal dendritic remodeling due to stress and for dendritic reorganization in frontal cortex after cholinergic deafferentation. Thus, NMDA receptors could mediate stress-induced dendritic retraction in mPFC. To test this hypothesis, dendritic morphology of pyramidal cells in mPFC was assessed after blocking NMDA receptors with the competitive NMDA antagonist ±3-(2-carboxypiperazin-4yl)propyl-1-phosphonic acid (CPP) during restraint stress. Administration of CPP prevented stress-induced dendritic atrophy. Instead, CPP-injected stressed rats showed hypertrophy of apical dendrites compared with controls. These results suggest that NMDA activation is crucial for stress-induced dendritic atrophy in mPFC. Furthermore, NMDA receptor blockade uncovers a new pattern of stress-induced dendritic changes, suggesting that other neurohormonal changes in concert with NMDA receptor activation underlie the net dendritic retraction seen after chronic stress.     

Propofol inhibits phosphorylation of N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor NR1 subunits in neurons

BACKGROUND: Anesthetics may interact with ionotropic glutamate receptors to produce some of their biologic actions. Cellular studies reveal that the ionotropic glutamate receptors, N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors (NMDARs), can be phosphorylated on their NR1 subunits at the C-terminal serine residues, which is a major mechanism for the regulation of NMDAR functions. It is currently unknown whether anesthetics have any modulatory effects on NMDAR NR1 subunit phosphorylation. METHODS: The possible effect of a general anesthetic propofol on phosphorylation of NR1 subunits at serine 897 (pNR1S897) and 896 (pNR1S896) was detected in cultured rat cortical neurons. RESULTS: Propofol consistently reduced basal levels of pNR1S897 and pNR1S896 in a concentration-dependent manner. This reduction was rapid as the reliable reduction of pNR1S896 developed 1 min after propofol administration. Pretreatment of cultures with the protein phosphatase 2A inhibitors okadaic acid or calyculin A blocked the effect of propofol on the NR1 phosphorylation, whereas okadaic acid or calyculin A alone did not alter basal pNR1S897 and pNR1S896 levels. In addition, propofol decreased tyrosine phosphorylation of protein phosphatase 2A at tyrosine 307, resulting in an increase in protein phosphatase 2A activity. In the presence of propofol, the NMDAR agonist-induced intracellular Ca2+ increase was impaired in neurons with dephosphorylated NR1 subunits. CONCLUSIONS: Together, these data indicate an inhibitory effect of a general anesthetic propofol on NMDAR NR1 subunit phosphorylation in neurons. This inhibition was mediated through a signaling mechanism involving activation of protein phosphatase 2A.     

切口痛-瑞芬太尼痛觉过敏大鼠脊髓总蛋白及膜蛋白NMDA受体NRl 、NR2A及NR2B亚基表达的变化

目的 评价切口痛-瑞芬太尼痛觉过敏大鼠脊髓总蛋白及膜蛋白NMDA受体NR1、NR2A及NR2B亚基表达的变化.方法 尾静脉置管成功的雄性SD大鼠32只,体重240～260 g,月龄2～3月,采用随机数字表法,将大鼠随机分为4组(n=8):对照组(C组)静脉输注等容量生理盐水60 min,瑞芬太尼组(R组)静脉输注瑞芬太尼1.2μg·kg-1·min-1 60 min;切口痛组(I组)建立切口痛模型,同时静脉输注等容量生理盐水60 min;瑞芬太尼+切口痛组(R+I组)建立切口痛模型,同时静脉输注瑞芬太尼1.2 μg· kg-1 ·min-1 60 min.于生理盐水或瑞芬太尼给药前24h、给药后2、6、24和48 h时测定机械刺激缩足阈值(PWT)和热刺激缩足潜伏期(PWL),最后一次测定痛阈后处死取脊髓L4～6节段,采用Western blot法测定脊髓总蛋白及膜蛋白NMDA受体NR1、NR2A及NR2B亚基的表达,并计算膜蛋白中NR2B/NR2A比值.结果 与C组比较,I组、R组和R+I组PWT降低,PWL缩短,总蛋白及膜蛋白NMDA受体NR1和NR2B亚基表达上调,膜蛋白中NR2B/NR2A比值增加(P＜0.05).与R组和I组比较,R+I组PWT降低,PWL缩短,总蛋白及膜蛋白NMDA受体NR1和NR2B亚基表达上调,膜蛋白中NR2B/NR2A比值增加(P＜0.05).各组总蛋白及膜蛋白NMDA受体NR2A亚基表达差异无统计学意义(P＞0.05).结论 大鼠切口痛-瑞芬太尼痛觉过敏的形成可能与脊髓总蛋白及膜蛋白NMDA受体NR1和NR2B亚基表达上调和膜蛋白中NMDA受体NR2B亚基组成比例的增加有关.     

Modulation of NMDA receptor current in layer V pyramidal neurons of the rat prefrontal cortex by P2Y receptor activation

Current responses to N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) in layer V pyramidal neurons of the rat prefrontal cortex were potentiated by the P2 receptor agonists adenosine 5'-triphosphate (ATP) and uridine 5'-triphosphate (UTP). The failure of these nucleotides to induce inward current on fast local superfusion suggested the activation of P2Y rather than P2X receptors. The potentiation by ATP persisted in a Ca(2+)-free superfusion medium but was abolished by 1,2-bis(2-amino-5-fluorophenoxy)ethane-N,N,N',N'-tetraacetic acid tetrakis(acetoxymethyl) ester, cyclopiazonic acid, 7-nitroindazole, fluoroacetic acid, bafilomycin, and tetanus toxin, indicating that an astrocytic signaling molecule may participate. Because the metabotropic glutamate receptor (mGluR) agonists (1S,3R)-1-aminocyclopentane-1,3-dicarboxylic acid (ACPD) (group I/II) and (RS)-3,5-dihydroxyphenylglycine (group I) both imitated the effect of ATP and the group I mGluR antagonist 1-aminoindan-1,5-dicarboxylic acid or a combination of selective mGluR(1) (7-(hydroxyimino)-cyclopropa[b]chromen-1a-carboxylate) and mGluR(5) (2-methyl-6-(phenylethynyl)pyridine) antagonists abolished the facilitation by ATP, it was concluded that the signaling molecule may be glutamate. Pharmacological tools known to interfere with the transduction cascade of type I mGluRs (guanosine 5'-O-(3-thiodiphosphate), U-73122, xestospongin C, 1,2-bis(2-aminophenoxy)ethane-N,N,N',N'-tetraacetic acid, calmodulin kinase II [CAMKII] inhibitor peptide) depressed the actions of both ATP and ACPD. Characterization of the P2Y receptor by agonists (ATP and UTP), antagonists (suramin and pyridoxal-phosphate-6-azophenyl-2',4'-disulfonic acid), and knockout mice (P2Y(2)(-/-)) suggested that the nucleotides act at the P2Y(4) subtype. In conclusion, we propose that exogenous and probably also endogenous ATP release vesicular glutamate from astrocytes by P2Y(4) receptor activation. This glutamate then stimulates type I mGluRs of layer V pyramidal neurons and via the G(q)/phospholipase C/inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate/Ca(2+)/CAMKII transduction pathway facilitates NMDA receptor currents.     

The NMDA NR2B subunit-selective receptor antagonist, CP-101,606, enhances the functional recovery the NMDA NR2B subunit-selective receptor and reduces brain damage after cortical compression-induced brain ischemia

Using a novel in vivo model for cerebral ischemia produced by short-lasting compression of a well-defined brain area of sensorimotor cortex we studied neuroprotective effects of the NMDA NR2B subunit selective antagonist, CP-101,606, in Sprague-Dawley rats. Cortical compression for 30 min produced a consistent and highly reproducible functional impairment, that is paresis of contralateral hind and fore limbs. The neurological deficit was accompanied by marked brain damage in cerebral cortex, hippocampus and thalamus as identified by Fluoro-Jade, a marker of general neuronal cell death. Using a daily performed beam walking test it was shown that untreated animals recovered from their functional impairment within 5-7 days following surgery. Intravenous administration of increasing doses (1, 5, 10, 20 mg/kg) of the NMDA NR2B subunit receptor specific antagonist, CP-101,606, dose-dependently improved the rate of functional recovery and protected against the ischemic brain damage in cerebral cortex, hippocampus, and thalamus as identified 2 days after the ischemic insult. Based upon these results, we conclude that NMDA NR2B receptor subunits represent potential targets to reduce not only the functional deficits, but also neuronal death in cortex and several midbrain regions produced by moderate, transient, cerebral ischemia.     

Compositionality of rule representations in human prefrontal cortex

Rules are widely used in everyday life to organize actions and thoughts in accordance with our internal goals. At the simplest level, single rules can be used to link individual sensory stimuli to their appropriate responses. However, most tasks are more complex and require the concurrent application of multiple rules. Experiments on humans and monkeys have shown the involvement of a frontoparietal network in rule representation. Yet, a fundamental issue still needs to be clarified: Is the neural representation of multiple rules compositional, that is, built on the neural representation of their simple constituent rules? Subjects were asked to remember and apply either simple or compound rules. Multivariate decoding analyses were applied to functional magnetic resonance imaging data. Both ventrolateral frontal and lateral parietal cortex were involved in compound representation. Most importantly, we were able to decode the compound rules by training classifiers only on the simple rules they were composed of. This shows that the code used to store rule information in prefrontal cortex is compositional. Compositional coding in rule representation suggests that it might be possible to decode other complex action plans by learning the neural patterns of the known composing elements.     

Dissociable roles for the ventromedial prefrontal cortex and amygdala in fear extinction: NR2B contribution

Fear extinction, which involves learning to suppress the expression of previously learned fear, requires N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors (NMDARs) and is mediated by the amygdala and ventromedial prefrontal cortex (vmPFC). Like other types of learning, extinction involves acquisition and consolidation phases. We recently demonstrated that NR2B-containing NMDARs (NR2Bs) in the lateral amygdala (LA) are required for extinction acquisition, but whether they are involved in consolidation is not known. Further, although it has been shown that NMDARs in the vmPFC are required for extinction consolidation, whether NR2Bs in vmPFC are involved in consolidation is not known. In this report, we investigated the possible role of LA and vmPFC NR2Bs in the consolidation of fear extinction using the NR2B-selective antagonist ifenprodil. We show that systemic treatment with ifenprodil immediately after extinction training disrupts extinction consolidation. Ifenprodil infusion into vmPFC, but not the LA, immediately after extinction training also disrupts extinction consolidation. In contrast, we also show pre-extinction training infusions into vmPFC has no effect. These results, together with our previous findings showing that LA NR2Bs are required during the acquisition phase in extinction, indicate a double dissociation for the phase-dependent role of NR2Bs in the LA (acquisition, not consolidation) and vmPFC (consolidation, not acquisition).     

异氟醚对大鼠不同脑区NMDA受体功能亚单位磷酸化的影响

目的：探讨异氟醚对大鼠不同脑区NMDA受体（NR）的功能亚单位NR1磷酸化的影响，揭示吸入麻醉药物抑制NR开放的机理。方法：SD大鼠20只，随机分为对照组（吸氧）和实验组（吸异氟醚），Western-blot方法检测吸入异氟醚后大鼠大脑皮层，脑干，海马的磷酸化NR1蛋白量以及NR1蛋白量的变化。结果：大鼠吸入1．75％异氟醚20min后，大脑皮层的磷酸化NR1蛋白量比对照组下降41．6％，脑干，海马的磷酸化NR1蛋白量也分别比对照组下降49．8％和39．9％（P＜0．01），但NR1蛋白表达量未发生显著改变（P＞0．05）。结论：异氟醚可抑制NR1的磷酸化，这种作用是吸入麻醉药抑制NR通道开放的重要原因，而NR1细胞内C－末端磷酸化位点可能是异氟醚作用于NR通道的直接或间接位点。     

Dissociable mechanisms of attentional control within the human prefrontal cortex

Neuropsychological tests that require shifting an attentional set, such as the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test, are sensitive to frontal lobe damage. Although little information is available for humans, an animal experiment suggested that different regions of the prefrontal cortex may contribute to set shifting behavior at different levels of processing. Behavioral studies also suggest that set shifting trials are more time consuming than non-set shifting trials (i.e. switch cost) and that this may be underpinned by differences at the neural level. We determined whether there were differential neural responses associated with two different levels of shifting behavior, that of reversal of stimulus-response associations within a perceptual dimension or that of shifting an attentional set between different perceptual dimensions. Neural activity in the antero-dorsal prefrontal cortex increased only in attentional set shifting, in which switch costs were significant. Activity in the postero-ventral prefrontal cortex increased not only in set shifting but also in reversing stimulus-response associations, in which switch costs were absent. We conclude that these distinct regions in the human prefrontal cortex provide different levels of attention control in response selection. Thus, the antero-dorsal prefrontal cortex may be critical for higher order control of attention, i.e. attentional set shifting, whereas the postero-ventral area may be related to a lower level of shift, i.e. reorganizing stimulus-response associations.     

NMDA receptors in the rat orbital prefrontal cortex are involved in guidance of instrumental behaviour under reversal conditions

The orbital prefrontal cortex (OPFC) might be particularly involved in adapting instrumental responses to changes of stimulus-reward contingencies. We investigated whether signals in the OPFC transmitted via N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors are critical for learning a reversal of stimulus-reward contingencies. Rats were trained in a reaction time (RT) task demanding conditioned lever release with discriminative stimuli signalling in advance the upcoming reward magnitude (one or five pellets). After acquisition, RT of responses with expectancy of high reward magnitude were significantly shorter. Thereafter, stimulus-reward contingencies were reversed and rats received intra-OPFC infusions of saline or of the NMDA receptor antagonist AP5. Reversal learning was tested for 6 days, with microinfusions being given on days 1, 3 and 5. Intra-OPFC blockade of NMDA receptors impaired the learning of a reversal of previously acquired stimulus-reward magnitude contingencies: (i) latencies of correct responses were generally shortened, regardless of the response-associated reward magnitude; (ii) the proportion of premature responses was increased; and (iii) responses were not guided by the current significance of the reward-predicting stimuli. These findings provide novel evidence for NMDA-receptor-dependent plasticity in the OPFC in reversal learning.     

烫伤大鼠海马N-甲基-D-天冬氨酸受体亚型基因表达的变化

目的　观察严重烫伤应激后大鼠海马N 甲基 D 天冬氨酸受体 (N methyl D aspartatere ceptorsNMDAR)亚型基因表达的变化。　方法　制作 30 %TBSAⅢ度烫伤大鼠应激模型 ,以大鼠背部剃毛 ,浸入温水 10s为对照 ,利用RT PCR技术 ,分别检测对照组及烫伤后 0 .5、1、2、4h各时相点海马NMDAR的主要亚型NMDAR1、NMDAR2A、NMDAR2B、NMDAR2DmRNA的表达。　结果　伤后 0 .5h及1hNMDAR各亚单位mRNA表达无显著变化 ;伤后 2h及 4hNMDAR1mRNA表达比对照组增加 2 4 .3%及 2 0 .9% (P <0 .0 5 ) ,NMDAR2AmRNA表达比对照组增加 2 7.8%及 2 7.6 % (P <0 0 5 ) ,NM DAR2B及NMDAR2D的mRNA表达无明显变化。　结论　海马NMDAR1/NMDAR2A构成的受体通道在烫伤 2h后表达增强 ,这种变化可能导致了烫伤应激时NMDAR的进一步开放 ,从而可能参与烫伤应激HPA轴失调及其后续的病理生理改变     

七氟醚对老年大鼠认知功能及大脑额叶GABAR1和NMDAR2B表达的影响

目的观察七氟醚对老年大鼠学习记忆能力的影响以及与脑右侧前额叶γ-氨基丁酸受体1(GABAR1)和N-甲基-D-天冬氨酸受体2B(NMDAR2B)表达变化的关系。方法雄性SD老年大鼠模型50只,随机分为对照组(C组,n=10)和实验组(T组,n=40)。C组吸入室温空气,实验组按3%浓度吸入七氟醚持续时间不同分为T1组(吸入2h)和T2组(吸入4h),C组全部,T1和T2组各取10只大鼠分别在麻醉后1天和7天进行Morris水迷宫实验,检测老年大鼠的空间学习记忆能力,采用定量RT-PCR技术和免疫荧光技术分别检测右侧前额叶GABAR1和NMDAR2B的mRNA转录水平和蛋白含量。结果与C组比较,吸入七氟醚第1天T1和T2组逃避潜伏期明显延长,空间探索穿越次数明显减少,GABAR1的mRNA表达量和蛋白含量明显上调,NMDAR2B的mRNA表达量和蛋白含量明显下调(P0.05)。与C组比较,吸入七氟醚后第7天T2组逃避潜伏期明显延长,空间探索穿越次数明显减少,T2组GABAR1 mRNA表达量和蛋白含量明显上调,NMDAR2B的mRNA表达量和蛋白含量明显下调,且T2组GABAR1蛋白含量明显高于,NMDAR2B蛋白含量明显低于T1组(P0.05)结论长时持续吸入七氟醚相较于短时持续吸入对空间学习记忆能力下降的影响较大,且持续影响时间较长。这种影响与脑额叶中GABAR1和NMDAR2B的表达变化相关。     

5-HT1A receptor agonists enhance pyramidal cell firing in prefrontal cortex through a preferential action on GABA interneurons

5-HT(1A) receptors (5-HT1AR) are expressed by pyramidal and γ-aminobutyric acidergic (GABAergic) neurons in medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC). Endogenous serotonin inhibits mPFC pyramidal neurons via 5-HT1AR while 5-HT1AR agonists, given systemically, paradoxically excite ventral tegmental area-projecting pyramidal neurons. This enhances mesocortical dopamine function, a process involved in the superior efficacy of atypical antipsychotic drugs on negative and cognitive symptoms of schizophrenia. Moreover, the 5-HT1AR-induced increase of pyramidal discharge may also contribute to the maintenance of activity patterns required for working memory, impaired in schizophrenia. Given the importance of these processes, we examined the neurobiological basis of pyramidal activation through 5-HT1AR using the prototypical agent 8-OH-DPAT. (±)8-OH-DPAT (7.5 μg/kg i.v.) increased discharge rate and c-fos expression in rat mPFC pyramidal neurons. Local blockade of GABA(A) inputs with gabazine (SR-95531) avoided (±)8-OH-DPAT-induced excitations of pyramidal neurons. Moreover, (±)8-OH-DPAT administration reduced the discharge rate of mPFC fast-spiking GABAergic interneurons at doses exciting pyramidal neurons. Activation of other 5-HT1AR subpopulations (raphe nuclei or hippocampus) does not appear to contribute to pyramidal excitations. Overall, the present data suggest a preferential action of (±)8-OH-DPAT on 5-HT1AR in GABAergic interneurons. This results in pyramidal disinhibition and subsequent downstream excitations of subcortical structures reciprocally connected with PFC, such as midbrain dopaminergic neurons.     

The expression of contextual fear conditioning involves activation of an NMDA receptor-nitric oxide pathway in the medial prefrontal cortex

The ventral portion of medial prefrontal cortex (vMPFC) is involved in contextual fear-conditioning expression in rats. In the present study, we investigated the role of local N-methyl-D-aspartic acid (NMDA) glutamate receptors and nitric oxide (NO) in vMPFC on the behavioral (freezing) and cardiovascular (increase of arterial pressure and heart rate) responses of rats exposed to a context fear conditioning. The results showed that both freezing and cardiovascular responses to contextual fear conditioning were reduced by bilateral administration of NMDA receptor antagonist LY235959 (4 nmol/200 nL) into the vMPFC before reexposition to conditioned chamber. Bilateral inhibition of neuronal NO synthase (nNOS) by local vMPFC administration of the N omega-propyl-L-arginine (N-propyl, 0.04 nmol/200 nL) or the NO scavenger carboxy-PTIO (1 nmol/200 nL) caused similar results, inhibiting the fear responses. We also investigated the effects of inhibiting glutamate- and NO-mediated neurotransmission in the vMPFC at the time of aversive context exposure on reexposure to the same context. It was observed that the 1st exposure results in a significant attenuation of the fear responses on reexposure in vehicle-treated animals, which was not modified by the drugs. The present results suggest that a vMPFC NMDA-NO pathway may play an important role on expression of contextual fear conditioning.     

Differential localization of protein phosphatase-1alpha, beta and gamma1 isoforms in primate prefrontal cortex

Prefrontal cortical functioning depends on D1 family receptors and their complex signal transduction cascade, including protein phosphatase-1 (PP1). Three PP1 isoforms are prominent in the brain: PP1alpha, PP1beta and PP1gamma1. PP1 localization by a variety of scaffolding proteins is critical for dopamine-mediated modulation of glutamatergic neurotransmission. We have quantified the subcellular distribution of each isoform in primate prefrontal cortex using immunoelectron microscopy. All three are found in spines, dendrites, axon terminals, axons and glia. However, PP1alpha and PP1gamma1 labeling is enriched in spines, whereas PP1beta label is enriched in dendrites. Using post-embedding immunogold labeling, we further examined the distribution of PP1alpha and PP1gamma1 within spines. PP1gamma1 is highly and specifically concentrated in the postsynaptic density (PSD) of these spines, while PP1alpha is enriched in the PSD but also found subjacent to the PSD in moderate amounts. Thus, PP1 isoforms are heterogeneously distributed in the cortical neuropil and within spines. These results suggest that each PP1 isoform has access to a different set of substrates and, furthermore, they demonstrate that the composition of signal transduction proteins varies in different parts of the neuron and even in different regions of a dendritic spine in the primate PFC.     

Hemispheric specialization in human prefrontal cortex for resolving certain and uncertain inferences

Uncertainty is a fact of life that must be accommodated in real-world decision making. Although it has been suggested that the right prefrontal cortex (PFC) has a special role to play in decision making under uncertainty, there is very little hard data to support this hypothesis. To better understand the roles of left and right PFCs in reasoning and decision making in situations with complete and incomplete information, we administered simple inference problems to 18 patients with lateralized focal lesions to PFC (9 right hemisphere, 9 left hemisphere) and 22 age- and education-matched normal controls. The stimuli were systematically manipulated for completeness of information regarding the status of the conclusion. Our results demonstrated a 2-way interaction such that patients with left PFC lesions were selectively impaired in trials with complete information, whereas patients with right PFC lesions were selectively impaired in trials with incomplete information. These results provide compelling evidence for hemispheric specialization for reasoning in PFC and suggest that the right PFC has a critical role to play in reasoning about incompletely specified situations. We postulate this role involves the maintenance of ambiguous mental representations that temper premature overinterpretation by the left hemisphere.