Receptor trafficking such as endocytosis may decrease the number of surface receptors and hence down-regulate receptor-mediated functions. Previous studies showed that dynamic endocytosis of N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor/channels (NMDARs) inhibits the gating of remaining surface NMDARs characterized by a reduction in channel open duration. Surprisingly, the blockade of Na+ influx prevents the gating down-regulation of remaining surface NMDARs induced by NMDAR endocytosis. More importantly, if this gating down-regulation is prevented, NMDA channel endocytosis produces no change in NMDA channel-mediated whole-cell and synaptic responses. Here, I report that blocking Na+ influx only during (R,S)-3,5-dihydroxyphenylglycine (DHPG) application, which induces NMDA channel endocytosis, could effectively block the down-regulation of NMDA channel-mediated excitatory postsynaptic currents (EPSCs) induced by NMDA channel endocytosis in adult CA1 neurons. This finding provided the first evidence confirming that the Na+ influx blockade during DHPG application sufficiently prevents DHPG-induced down-regulation of NMDA channel-mediated synaptic responses in CA1 neurons. / A Thesis submitted to the Department of Chemical & Biomedical Engineering in
partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science. / Degree Awarded: Summer Semester, 2008. / Date of Defense: June 30, 2008. / DHPG, Synaptic Responses, NMDA Receptor / Includes bibliographical references. / Chi-Kai (Kevin) Chen, Professor Directing Thesis; Xian-Min Yu, Committee Member; Sachin Shanbhag, Committee Member.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:fsu.edu/oai:fsu.digital.flvc.org:fsu_168678 |
| Contributors | Zhong, Peng (authoraut), Chen, Chi-Kai (Kevin) (professor directing thesis), Yu, Xian-Min (committee member), Shanbhag, Sachin (committee member), Department of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering (degree granting department), Florida State University (degree granting institution) |
| Publisher | Florida State University |
| Source Sets | Florida State University |
| Language | English, English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Text, text |
| Format | 1 online resource, computer, application/pdf |
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