NMDA Receptors on Non-Dopaminergic Neurons in the VTA Support Cocaine Sensitization (original) (raw)
Figure 2
Absence of functional NMDAR in NR1DATCre mice.
(A) Example waveforms recorded at +50 mV from both wildtype (WT) and NR1DATCre (KO) cells before (black trace) and after AP5 application (grey trace). In WT cells, the NMDA component could be obtained by subtracting the AMPA current remaining after AP5 application from the control current, as indicated. In KO cells, only the AMPA mediated EPSC was observed. The gray block represents the time over which the NMDA current was measured. Scale bars are 20 pA and 20 ms. (B) Average NMDA current measured as described in A. Responses were evoked at holding potentials, beginning at −90 mV in 10 mV increments to +50mV. (C) Decay time constant (tau) of EPSCs measured before and after AP5 in control and KO cells. Following AP5 superfusion, the remaining current in the WT cells exhibited similar decay constants as the KO animals. (D) Mean time course of NMDA currents before and after AP5 application. Following AP5 the WT response amplitude was reduced to the same level observed in the KO cells, thus confirming the lack of active NMDA channels in DA NR1DATCre neurons.