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The Journal of Neuroscience, March 15, 2002, 22(6):2165-2173
Synaptically Released Glutamate Activates Extrasynaptic NMDA
Receptors on Cells in the Ganglion Cell Layer of Rat Retina
Shan
Chen and
Jeffrey S.
Diamond
Synaptic Physiology Unit, National Institute of Neurological
Disorders and Stroke, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland
20892-4066
NMDA and AMPA receptors (NMDARs and AMPARs) are colocalized at most
excitatory synapses in the CNS. Consequently, both receptor types are
activated by a single quantum of transmitter and contribute to
miniature and evoked EPSCs. However, in amphibian retina, miniature EPSCs in ganglion cell layer neurons are mediated solely by AMPARs, although both NMDARs and AMPARs are activated during evoked EPSCs. One
explanation for this discrepancy is that NMDARs are located outside of
the synaptic cleft and are activated only when extrasynaptic glutamate
levels increase during coincident release from multiple synapses.
Alternatively, NMDARs may be segregated at synapses that either are not
spontaneously active or yield miniature EPSCs that are too small to
detect. In this study, we examined excitatory, glutamatergic synaptic
inputs to neurons in the ganglion cell layer of acute slices of rat
retina. EPSCs, elicited by electrically stimulating presynaptic bipolar
cells, exhibited both NMDAR- and AMPAR-mediated components. However,
spontaneous EPSCs exhibited only an AMPAR-mediated component. The
effects of low-affinity, competitive receptor antagonists indicated
that NMDARs encounter less glutamate than AMPARs during an evoked
synaptic response. Reducing glutamate uptake or changing the
probability of release preferentially affected the NMDAR component in
evoked EPSCs; reducing uptake revealed an NMDAR component in
spontaneous EPSCs. These results indicate that NMDARs are located
extrasynaptically and that glutamate transporters prevent NMDAR
activation by a transmitter released from a single vesicle and limit
their activation during evoked responses.
Key words:
rat; retina; ganglion cell; low-affinity antagonist; glutamate transporter; spillover
Copyright © 2002 Society for Neuroscience 0270-6474/02/2262165-09$05.00/0
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