The quinoxalinediones antagonise the visual firing of sustained retinal ganglion cells

Abstract

The non N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonists dinitroquinoxaline-2,3-dione (DNQX) and 6-cyano-7-nitroquinoxaline-2,3-dione (CNQX), both inhibit the visually driven response of sustained ganglion cells in the cat retina in vivo. In contrast to these findings, the potent NMDA receptor antagonists 3-((±)-2-carboxypiperazin-4-yl)-propyl-1-phosphonic acid (CCP) has no effect. Thus, the endogenous excitatory amino acid released onto these cells on visual stimulation acts at non-NMDA receptors.