| 16914666 |
Gsell W, Burke M, Wiedermann D, Bonvento G, Silva AC, Dauphin F, Buhrle C, Hoehn M, Schwindt W: Differential effects of NMDA and AMPA glutamate receptors on functional magnetic resonance imaging signals and evoked neuronal activity during forepaw stimulation of the rat. J Neurosci. 2006 Aug 16;26(33):8409-16.
Most of the currently used methods for functional brain imaging do not visualize neuronal activity directly but rather rely on the elicited hemodynamic and/or metabolic responses. Glutamate, the major excitatory neurotransmitter, plays an important role in the neurovascular/neurometabolic coupling, but the specific mechanisms are still poorly understood. To investigate the role of the two major ionotropic glutamate receptors [NMDA receptors (NMDA-Rs) and AMPA receptors (AMPA-Rs)] for the generation of functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) signals, we used fMRI [measurements of blood oxygenation level-dependent (BOLD), perfusion-weighted imaging (PWI), and cerebral blood volume (CBV)] together with recordings of somatosensory evoked potentials (SEPs) during electrical forepaw stimulation in the alpha-chloralose anesthetized rat. Intravenous injection of the NMDA-R antagonist MK-801 [(+)-5-methyl-10,11-dihydro-5H-dibenzo [a,d] cyclohepten-5,10-imine maleate] (0.06 mg/kg plus 3.6 microg x kg (-1) x h (-1)) significantly decreased BOLD (-51 +/- 19%; n = 5) and PWI (-57 +/- 26%; n = 5) responses but reduced the SEPs only mildly (approximately -10%). Systemic application of the AMPA-R antagonist GYKI-53655 [1-(4-aminophenyl)-3-methylcarbamyl-4-methyl-7,8-methylenedioxy-3,4-dihydr o-5H-2,3-benzodiazepine] significantly decreased both the hemodynamic response (BOLD, -49 +/- 13 and -65 +/- 15%; PWI, -22 +/- 48 and -68 +/- 4% for 5 and 7 mg/kg, i.v., respectively; CBV, -80 +/- 7% for 7 mg/kg; n = 4) and the SEPs (up to -60%). These data indicate that the interaction of glutamate with its postsynaptic and/or glial receptors is necessary for the generation of blood flow and BOLD responses and illustrate the differential role of NMDA-Rs and AMPA-Rs in the signaling chain leading from increased neuronal activity to the hemodynamic response in the somatosensory cortex. |
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