Rapid effect of stress concentration corticosterone on glutamate receptor and its subtype NMDA receptor activity in cultured hippocampal neurons

Objective: To study the rapid effect of glucocorticoids (GCs) on NMDA receptor activity in hippocampal neurons in stress and to elucidate its underlying probable membrane mechanisms. Methods: Whole-cell patch-clamp recording was used to assess the effect of stress concentration corticosterone (B) on the responses of cultured hippocampal neurons to glutamate and NMDA (N-methy-D-asparatic acid). To make clear the target of B, intracellular dialysis of B(10μmol/L)through patch pipette and extracellular application of bovine serum albumin-conjugated corticosterone (B-BSA, 10μmol/L)were carried out to observe their influence on peak amplitude of NMDA-evoked current. Results: B had a rapid, reversible and inhibitory effect on peak amplitude of GLU-or NMDA-evoked current in cultured hippoeampal neurons. Furthermore, B-BSA had the inhibitory effect on INMDA as that of B, but intraeeUularly dialyzed B had no significant effect on INMDA. Conclusion: These results suggest that under the condition of stress, GCs may rapidly, negatively regulate excitatory synaptic receptors-glutamate receptors (GluRs), especially NMDA receptor (NMDAR) in central nervous system, which is mediated by rapid membrane mechanisms, but not by classical, genomic mechanisms.

Rapid effect of stress concentration corticosterone on glutamate receptor and its subtype NMDA receptor activity in cultured hippocampal neurons

Objective:To study the rapid effect of glucocorticoids(GCs)on NMDA receptor activity in hippocampal neurons in stress and to elucidate its underlying probable membrane mechanisms.Methods:Whole-cell patch-clamp recording was used to assess the effect of stress concentration corticosterone(B)on the responses of cultured hippocampal neurons to glutamate and NMDA(N-methy-D-asparatic acid).To make clear the target of B,intracellular dialysis of B(10 μ mol/L)through patch pipette and extracellular application of bovine serum albumin-conjugated corticosterone(B-BSA,10 μmol/L)were carried out to observe their influence on peak amplitude of NMDA-evoked current.Results:B had a rapid,reversible and inhibitory effect on peak amplitude of GLU- or NMDA-evoked current in cultured hippocampal neurons.Furthermore,B-BSA had the inhibitory effect on INMDA as that of B,but intracellularly dialyzed B had no significant effect on INMDA.Conclusion:These results suggest that under the condition of stress,GCs may rapidly,negatively regulate excitatory synaptic receptors-glutamate receptors(GluRs),especially NMDA receptor(NMDAR)in central nervous system,which is mediated by rapid membrane mechanisms,but not by classical,genomic mechanisms.