Ketamine and phencyclidine cause a voltage-dependent block of responses to l-aspartic acid

doi:10.1016/0304-3940(85)90414-8

Neuroscience Letters

Volume 61, Issues 1–2, 24 October 1985, Pages 135-139

https://doi.org/10.1016/0304-3940(85)90414-8 Get rights and content

Abstract

Excitatory amino acids depolarize central mammalian neurons by increasing membrane conductance. This increase in conductance can be voltage-dependent (i.e. N-methyl-d-aspartate or l-aspartic acid (l-ASP)) or voltage-independent (i.e. kainic acid (KA)) depending on whether or not the channel is blocked by Mg²⁺ [8, 9]. Intracellular recordings were made from dissociated mouse spinal cord cells and conductance was calculated using constant current techniques. The dissociative anesthetics, ketamine and phencyclidine caused a selective depression in the change in conductance evoked by l-ASP but not that by KA. Under whole cell voltage-clamp (in the absence of extracellular Mg²⁺) this depression of responses to l-ASP was found to be highly voltage-dependent suggesting a blockade of the channel.

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Ketamine and phencyclidine cause a voltage-dependent block of responses to l-aspartic acid

Abstract

Brain Res.

Brain Res.

Brain Res.

Brain Res. Rev.

The dissociative anaesthetics, ketamine and phencyclidine, selectively reduce excitation of central mammalian neurons by N-methyl-aspartate

Br. J. Pharmacol.