NMDA receptor

most common ion within cattle and it plays an important role in the regulation of neuronal firing. N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors are a type of ionotropic glutamate receptor that are responsible for synaptic plasticity, learning, memory and excitation-contraction coupling with a skeletal muscle (Aydin and Uzun, 2008). A mammal experiencing homeostasis will have magnesium bound within the channel of the NMDA receptor, thereby preventing the potentiation of an action potential through the motor-end plate. The blockage of magnesium within the NMDA receptor is an essential mechanism to reduce the spontaneous firing at the motor-end plate (Aydin and Uzun, 2008). It is not until neurotransmitters such as glutamate or glycine bind to the NMDA receptor that the magnesium cation is dislodged and the action potential is allowed to propagate through the NMDA channel where it causes the release of sodium, calcium or other essential substances involved in neurotransmission (Aydin and Uzun, 2008). In regards to grass tetany, cattle who are subjected to prolonged periods of hypomagnesemia will develop muscle twitching, incoordination, staggering irritability, followed by coma and death (Aydin and Uzun, 2008). The development of the symptoms is result of the magnesium levels dropping to a concentration that no longer allows for the proper operation of NMDA receptors. If the concentration of magnesium within bovine plasma falls below 0.72 to 0.74 mM (1.7 to 1.8 mg/dL), the animal will…

discovery, doctors removed the teratomas and administered immune-suppressing medication, resulting in the rapid recovery of three out of the four women (Braverman 3). However, they still had to discover the source of the problem. In Dalmau’s lab, researchers exposed rat brains to the patients’ spinal fluid. Bingo. The brains showed evidence of an attack by antibodies, or specialized proteins that protect the immune system, which were most likely produced as part of the body’s response to the…

Acetylcholine is a neurotransmitter, which plays a role in synaptic plasticity, learning and memory. It has been observed that there is approximately a 90% loss of acetylcholine in the brains of people afflicted with Alzheimer’s disease (Boeree, 2009). The α-7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (α7- nAChRs) are highly expressed in the hippocampus (Prickaerts et al., 2011). Hippocampal long-term potentiation (LTP) is the constant increase in the efficiency of synaptic transmission. Research…

hippocampus is involved in the acquisition of the latent memory, and iii) the infant hippocampus matures through experience using mechanisms typical of developmental critical periods, including expression switch of NMDA receptor subunits from 2B to 2A. The NMDA receptor subunit switch is dependent on brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and metabotropic glutamate receptor 5 (mGluR5). We found that blocking either BDNF or mGluR5 blocked the learning-induced switch of 2B to 2A. Conversely,…

Anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis is a disease occurring when antibodies produced by the body’s own immune system attack NMDA receptors in the brain. NMDA receptors are proteins that control electrical impulses in the brain. Their functions are critical for judgement, perception of reality, human interaction, the formation and retrieval of memory, and the control of unconscious activities (such as breathing, swallowing, etc), also known as autonomic functions. Common symptoms are flu-like…

is the tryptamine molecule that is primarily responsible for Iboga's effect. Ibogaine similar to serotonin, but with a methyl molecule where the hydroxy group would be, and a more complex toluene structure with an ethyl group coming off. Ibogaine acts on almost all receptors in the brain, but primarily the…

post-myocardial infarction (post-MI). COPD is a progressive respiratory condition characterized by the inadequate airflow which makes the breathing more difficult. COPD patients are commonly treated with the bronchodilators such as the beta-2 adrenergic agonists.1 The beta-2 agonists stimulate the beta-2 adrenergic receptors which are found primarily in the lungs and peripheral vasculature. The stimulation of these receptors elicits airway dilation and aids the breathing process. Hypertension…

Intrinsic Cardiac Activity: The first peak of the electrocardiogram graph corresponded to the atrial contraction of the heart. The second peak of the electrocardiogram graph corresponded to the ventricular contraction of the heart. The third peak observed corresponded to the relaxation of the heart. Frank-Starling Mechanism: There was no significant trend observed in ventricular contractile force in response to increasing imposed length of the heart (Fig 1a). A maximum ventricular contractile…

As of now, two cannabinoids (marijuana), dronabinol (Marinol) and nabilone (Cesamet), are approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for use in chemotherapy induced nausea and vomiting (CINV).1 According to an article about the use of cannabinoids and the treatment of chemotherapy side effects, cannabinoids are shown to have a significant neuro-modulatory function in decreasing CINV.1 CB1 cannabinoid receptors are present in the central nervous system, while recent evidence proposes that…

Adenosine receptor blockage’s effects on the electrophysiology of HCTP/OR producing neurons of the Hypothalamus – receptor blockage mediated by Caffeine Introduction In this experiment, the quantification of firing rate changes on a specific neural sub-group will be analyzed via whole cell patch-clamping and the application of the common psychoactive drug-caffeine. The significance of quantifying the electrical signaling of the chosen neuron is to proportionally quantify the effects the chosen…