Abstract
We have investigated the action of excitatory amino acids and their antagonists on spontaneous motor activity produced by an isolated preparation of the chick lumbosacral cord. Bath application of N-methyl-DL-aspartic acid (NMDA) or D-glutamate increased the occurrence and duration of spontaneous episodes of motor activity. Both NMDA-induced and spontaneous activity were reversibly inhibited by several excitatory amino acid antagonists including 2-amino-5-phosphono valeric acid and gamma-D-glutamyl glycine in a dose-dependent manner. These results suggest that motor activity in the chick spinal cord may be regulated by the release of endogenous excitatory amino acids from spinal interneurons.
Publication types
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Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.
MeSH terms
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2-Amino-5-phosphonovalerate
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Amino Acids / antagonists & inhibitors*
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Animals
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Aspartic Acid / analogs & derivatives*
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Aspartic Acid / pharmacology
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Chick Embryo
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Convulsants / pharmacology
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Dipeptides / pharmacology*
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In Vitro Techniques
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Kynurenic Acid / pharmacology*
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Motor Activity / drug effects*
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Motor Neurons / drug effects
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Motor Neurons / physiology*
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N-Methylaspartate
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Spinal Cord / drug effects
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Spinal Cord / physiology*
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Valine / analogs & derivatives*
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Valine / pharmacology
Substances
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Amino Acids
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Convulsants
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Dipeptides
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gamma-glutamylglycine
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Aspartic Acid
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N-Methylaspartate
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2-Amino-5-phosphonovalerate
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Kynurenic Acid
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Valine