NMDA Receptor Phosphorylation Research Articles

CaMKII-Mediated Upregulation of SerP1303 NR2B Phosphorylation in Rostral Cingulated Cortex in Response to Acute Esophageal Acid Exposure in Rats

Phosphorylation of NMDA receptors regulates many cellular processes including surface expression and protein activity resulting in changes in synaptic strength underlying many forms of synaptic plasticity. Several kinases such as protein kinase C(PKC), calcium/calmodulin kinase II (CaMKII),and protein tyrosine kinases phosphorylate various serine/threonine and tyrosine residues at the C-terminal ends of NR2 subunits of NMDA receptor. AIMS: To examine the effect of esophageal acid stimulation on NMDA receptor subunit phosphorylation in rat rostral cingulate cortex (rCC). Methods: Twelve Sprague Dawley rats were anesthetized (Nembutal, 30 mg/Kg, IP) and their mid esophagus were perfused with either 0.1N HCl (n=6) or saline (n=6) for 20 min at 0.1 ml/min. Four hours later the rat`s brains were removed and sliced sagitally at 2 mm from midline. The cingulate cortex obtained from the first slice on either side of the midline was transected rostrocaudally and the rCCwas analyzed usingWestern Blots. To investigate the involvement of CaMKII inNR2B phosphorylation, KN93, a specific inhibitor of CaMKII was microinjected into rCC 30 min before esophageal acid or saline infusion. The expression of CaMKII and activated phospho CaMKII (pCaMKII) were also examined in the rCC from acid and saline-treated animals. The intensity of expression was normalized against β-actin and expressed as mean ± SD. RESULTS: Following acute esophageal acid treatment a significant increase in SerP1303 NR2B was observed in rCC compared to saline-treated animals (p<0.001). Tyrosine phosphorylated NR2B subunits (TyrP1252, Tyr1336 and Tyr1472) failed to demonstrate significant differences in expression between acid and saline-treated animals. KN-93 treatment resulted in significant downregulation of SerP1303 NR2B in acid treated group (p<0.05 vs vehicles). A significant increase in pCaMKII, but not total CaMKII was observed in rCC from acid-treated animals (p<0.05 vs saline controls). Conclusions: our results indicate the involvement of CaMKII-mediated NR2B phosphorylation in esophageal acid-induced neuronal plasticity in the rostral cingulate cortex (rCC). This effect is blocked by specific CaMKII inhibitor KN-93. These findings may have ramifications in acid related symptom control.

Identification of Corticotropin Releasing Factor Receptor Type 1 (CRF 1) and Its Splicing Variants in Rat Brainstem Autonomic Nuclei and Peripheral Mechanisms of Brainstem CRF1-Mediated Stimulation of Colonic Motility

Phosphorylation of NMDA receptors regulates many cellular processes including surface expression and protein activity resulting in changes in synaptic strength underlying many forms of synaptic plasticity. Several kinases such as protein kinase C(PKC), calcium/calmodulin kinase II (CaMKII),and protein tyrosine kinases phosphorylate various serine/threonine and tyrosine residues at the C-terminal ends of NR2 subunits of NMDA receptor. AIMS: To examine the effect of esophageal acid stimulation on NMDA receptor subunit phosphorylation in rat rostral cingulate cortex (rCC). Methods: Twelve Sprague Dawley rats were anesthetized (Nembutal, 30 mg/Kg, IP) and their mid esophagus were perfused with either 0.1N HCl (n=6) or saline (n=6) for 20 min at 0.1 ml/min. Four hours later the rat`s brains were removed and sliced sagitally at 2 mm from midline. The cingulate cortex obtained from the first slice on either side of the midline was transected rostrocaudally and the rCCwas analyzed usingWestern Blots. To investigate the involvement of CaMKII inNR2B phosphorylation, KN93, a specific inhibitor of CaMKII was microinjected into rCC 30 min before esophageal acid or saline infusion. The expression of CaMKII and activated phospho CaMKII (pCaMKII) were also examined in the rCC from acid and saline-treated animals. The intensity of expression was normalized against β-actin and expressed as mean ± SD. RESULTS: Following acute esophageal acid treatment a significant increase in SerP1303 NR2B was observed in rCC compared to saline-treated animals (p<0.001). Tyrosine phosphorylated NR2B subunits (TyrP1252, Tyr1336 and Tyr1472) failed to demonstrate significant differences in expression between acid and saline-treated animals. KN-93 treatment resulted in significant downregulation of SerP1303 NR2B in acid treated group (p<0.05 vs vehicles). A significant increase in pCaMKII, but not total CaMKII was observed in rCC from acid-treated animals (p<0.05 vs saline controls). Conclusions: our results indicate the involvement of CaMKII-mediated NR2B phosphorylation in esophageal acid-induced neuronal plasticity in the rostral cingulate cortex (rCC). This effect is blocked by specific CaMKII inhibitor KN-93. These findings may have ramifications in acid related symptom control.

Alcohol inhibition of the NMDA receptor function, long-term potentiation, and fear learning requires striatal-enriched protein tyrosine phosphatase.

Alcohol's deleterious effects on memory are well known. Acute alcohol-induced memory loss is thought to occur via inhibition of NMDA receptor (NMDAR)-dependent long-term potentiation in the hippocampus. We reported previously that ethanol inhibition of NMDAR function and long-term potentiation is correlated with a reduction in the phosphorylation of Tyr(1472) on the NR2B subunit and ethanol's inhibition of the NMDAR field excitatory postsynaptic potential was attenuated by a broad spectrum tyrosine phosphatase inhibitor. These data suggested that ethanol's inhibitory effect may involve protein tyrosine phosphatases. Here we demonstrate that the loss of striatal-enriched protein tyrosine phosphatase (STEP) renders NMDAR function, phosphorylation, and long-term potentiation, as well as fear conditioning, less sensitive to ethanol inhibition. Moreover, the ethanol inhibition was "rescued" when the active STEP protein was reintroduced into the cells. Taken together, our data suggest that STEP contributes to ethanol inhibition of NMDAR function via dephosphorylation of tyrosine sites on NR2B receptors and lend support to the hypothesis that STEP may be required for ethanol's amnesic effects.

Group II Metabotropic Glutamate Receptor Agonist Ameliorates MK801-Induced Dysfunction of NMDA Receptors via the Akt/GSK-3β Pathway in Adult Rat Prefrontal Cortex

Pharmacological intervention targeting mGluRs has emerged as a potential treatment for schizophrenia, whereas the mechanisms involved remain elusive. We explored the antipsychotic effects of an mGluR2/3 agonist in the MK-801 model of schizophrenia in the rat prefrontal cortex. We found that the mGluR2/3 agonist LY379268 effectively recovered the disrupted expression of NMDA receptors induced by MK-801 administration. This effect was attributable to the direct regulatory action of LY379268 on NMDA receptors via activation of the Akt/GSK-3β signaling pathway. As occurs with the antipsychotic drug clozapine, acute treatment with LY379268 significantly increased the expression and phosphorylation of NMDA receptors, as well as Akt and GSK-3β. Physiologically, LY379268 significantly enhanced NMDA-induced current in prefrontal neurons and a GSK-3β inhibitor occluded this effect. In contrast to the widely proposed mechanism of modulating presynaptic glutamate release, our results strongly argue that mGluR2/3 agonists modulate the function of NMDA receptors through postsynaptic actions and reverse the MK-801-induced NMDA dysfunction via the Akt/GSK-3β pathway. This study provides novel evidence for postsynaptic mechanisms of mGluR2/3 in regulation of NMDA receptors and presents useful insights into the mechanistic actions of mGluR2/3 agonists as potential antipsychotic agents for treating schizophrenia.

Roles of the SH2 and SH3 domains in the regulation of neuronal Src kinase functions

Previous studies demonstrated that intra-domain interactions between Src family kinases (SFKs), stabilized by binding of the phosphorylated C-terminus to the SH2 domain and/or binding of the SH2 kinase linker to the SH3 domain, lock the molecules in a closed conformation, disrupt the kinase active site, and inactivate SFKs. Here we report that the up-regulation of N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors (NMDARs) induced by expression of constitutively active neuronal Src (n-Src), in which the C-terminus tyrosine is mutated to phenylalanine (n-Src/Y535F), is significantly reduced by dysfunctions of the SH2 and/or SH3 domains of the protein. Furthermore, we found that dysfunctions of SH2 and/or SH3 domains reduce auto-phosphorylation of the kinase activation loop, depress kinase activity, and decrease NMDAR phosphorylation. The SH2 domain plays a greater regulatory role than the SH3 domain. Our data also show that n-Src binds directly to the C-terminus of the NMDAR NR2A subunit in vitro, with a K(D) of 108.2 ± 13.3 nM. This binding is not Src kinase activity-dependent, and dysfunctions of the SH2 and/or SH3 domains do not significantly affect the binding. These data indicate that the SH2 and SH3 domains may function to promote the catalytic activity of active n-Src, which is important in the regulation of NMDAR functions.

Magnesium attenuates chronic hypersensitivity and spinal cord NMDA receptor phosphorylation in a rat model of diabetic neuropathic pain

Neuropathic pain is a common diabetic complication affecting 8-16% of diabetic patients. It is characterized by aberrant symptoms of spontaneous and stimulus-evoked pain including hyperalgesia and allodynia. Magnesium (Mg) deficiency has been proposed as a factor in the pathogenesis of diabetes-related complications, including neuropathy. In the central nervous system, Mg is also a voltage-dependent blocker of the N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor channels involved in abnormal processing of sensory information. We hypothesized that Mg deficiency might contribute to the development of neuropathic pain and the worsening of clinical and biological signs of diabetes and consequently, that Mg administration could prevent or improve its complications. We examined the effects of oral Mg supplementation (296 mg l(-1) in drinking water for 3 weeks) on the development of neuropathic pain and on biological and clinical parameters of diabetes in streptozocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats. STZ administration induced typical symptoms of type 1 diabetes. The diabetic rats also displayed mechanical hypersensitivity and tactile and thermal allodynia. The level of phosphorylated NMDA receptor NR1 subunit (pNR1) was higher in the spinal dorsal horn of diabetic hyperalgesic/allodynic rats. Magnesium supplementation failed to reduce hyperglycaemia, polyphagia and hypermagnesiuria, or to restore intracellular Mg levels and body growth, but increased insulinaemia and reduced polydipsia. Moreover, it abolished thermal and tactile allodynia, delayed the development of mechanical hypersensitivity, and prevented the increase in spinal cord dorsal horn pNR1. Thus, neuropathic pain symptoms can be attenuated by targeting the Mg-mediated blockade of NMDA receptors, offering new therapeutic opportunities for the management of chronic neuropathic pain.

Correlated changes in NMDA receptor phosphorylation, functional activity, and sedation by chronic ethanol consumption

Alcohol abuse leads to tolerance, dependence, and memory impairments that involve excitatory glutamatergic NMDA synaptic transmission. The NMDA receptor (NMDAR) is known to undergo activity-dependent adaptive functional changes. Since we observed that acute ethanol inhibition of the NMDAR was regulated by protein tyrosine phosphorylation, we investigated the role of protein tyrosine kinases and phosphatases on the NMDAR functions by chronic ethanol treatment. We carried out whole-cell recording, western blotting, and behavioral righting reflex measurements to assess the impact of chronic ethanol treatment on NMDAR function. Our results indicated that these receptors became resistant to the acute ethanol inhibition following chronic ethanol consumption. This resistance occurred without an increase in the NMDAR subunit expression but was associated with decreases in the levels of phospho-Y-1472 NR2B, increases in the levels of STEP33, increases in phospho-p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (pp38 MAPK), and acquisition of tolerance to the sedative effects of ethanol. These data suggested that altered protein tyrosine phosphorylation of the NMDAR subunits significantly contributes to functional changes of this receptor by chronic ethanol ingestion. Therefore, preservation of the integrity of tyrosine phosphorylation mechanisms of the NMDAR may be important in controlling the progression of alcohol tolerance and dependence.

ApoE4 reduces glutamate receptor function and synaptic plasticity by selectively impairing ApoE receptor recycling

Apolipoprotein E (ApoE) genotype is a powerful genetic modifier of Alzheimer's disease (AD). The ApoE4 isoform significantly reduces the mean age-of-onset of dementia through unknown mechanisms. Here, we show that ApoE4 selectively impairs synaptic plasticity and NMDA receptor phosphorylation by Reelin, a regulator of brain development and modulator of synaptic strength. ApoE4 reduces neuronal surface expression of Apoer2, a dual function receptor for ApoE and for Reelin, as well as NMDA and AMPA receptors by sequestration in intracellular compartments, thereby critically reducing the ability of Reelin to enhance synaptic glutamate receptor activity. As a result, the ability of Reelin to prevent LTP suppression by extracts from AD-afflicted human brains in hippocampal slices from knockin mice expressing the human ApoE4 isoform is severely impaired. These findings show an isoform-specific role of ApoE in the localization and intracellular trafficking of lipoprotein and glutamate receptors and thereby reveal an alternative mechanism by which ApoE4 may accelerate onset of dementia and neuronal degeneration by differentially impairing the maintenance of synaptic stability.

Mechanisms of HIV-tat-Induced Phosphorylation of N-Methyl- d-Aspartate Receptor Subunit 2A in Human Primary Neurons : Implications for NeuroAIDS Pathogenesis

HIV infection of the central nervous system results in neurological dysfunction in a large number of individuals. NeuroAIDS is characterized by neuronal injury and loss, yet there is no evidence of HIV-infected neurons. Neuronal damage and dropout must therefore be due to indirect effects of HIV infection of other central nervous system cells through elaboration of inflammatory factors and neurotoxic viral proteins, including the viral transactivator, tat. We previously demonstrated that HIV-tat-induced apoptosis in human primary neurons is dependent on N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) activity. NMDAR activity is regulated by various mechanisms including NMDAR phosphorylation, which may lead to neuronal dysfunction and apoptosis in pathological conditions. We now demonstrate that tat treatment of human neurons results in tyrosine (Y) phosphorylation of the NMDAR subunit 2A (NR2A) in a src kinase-dependent manner. In vitro kinase assays and in vivo data indicated that NR2A Y1184, Y1325, and Y1425 are phosphorylated. Tat treatment of neuronal cultures enhanced phosphorylation of NR2A Y1325, indicating that this site is tat sensitive. Human brain tissue sections from HIV-infected individuals with encephalitis showed an increased phosphorylation of NR2A Y1325 in neurons as compared with uninfected and HIV-infected individuals without encephalitis. These findings suggest new avenues of treatment for HIV-associated cognitive impairment.

Co-administration of ultra-low dose naloxone attenuates morphine tolerance in rats via attenuation of NMDA receptor neurotransmission and suppression of neuroinflammation in the spinal cords

Although mechanisms underlying ultra-low dose naloxone-induced analgesia have been proposed, possible interactions with glutamatergic transmission and glial cell activation have not been addressed. In the present study, we examined the effect of ultra-low dose naloxone on spinal glutamatergic transmission and glial cell activity in rats chronically infused with morphine. In male Wistar rats, intrathecal morphine infusion (15 μg/h) for 5 days induced (1) antinociceptive tolerance, (2) downregulation of glutamate transporters (GTs) GLT-1, GLAST, and EAAC1, (3) increasing of NMDA receptor (NMDAR) NR1 subunit expression and phosphorylation, (4) upregulation of protein kinase C gamma (PKCγ) expression, and (5) glial cell activation. On day 5, morphine challenge (15 μg/10 μl) caused a significant increase in the concentration of the excitatory amino acids (EAAs) aspartate and glutamate in the spinal CSF dialysates of morphine-tolerant rats. Intrathecal co-infusion of ultra-low dose naloxone (15 pg/h) with morphine attenuated tolerance development, reversed GTs expression, inhibited the NMDAR NR1 subunit expression and phosphorylation, and PKCγ expression, inhibited glial cell activation, and suppressed the morphine-evoked EAAs release. These effects may result in preservation of the antinociceptive effect of acute morphine challenge in chronic morphine-infused rats. Ultra-low dose naloxone infusion alone did not produce an antinociceptive effect. These findings demonstrated that attenuation of glutamatergic transmission and neuroinflammation by ultra-low dose naloxone co-infusion preserves the lasting antinociceptive effect of morphine in rats chronically infused with morphine.

Differential cocaine‐induced changes in striatal glutamate receptor phosphorylation in low and high cocaine responding rats

Locomotor sensitization induced by repeated exposure to cocaine has been linked to increases in glutamate α‐amino‐3‐hydroxy‐5‐methyl‐isoxazole propionic acid receptor (AMPAR) and N‐methyl D‐aspartate receptor (NMDAR) phosphorylation. Such changes may help to explain why outbred male Sprague‐Dawley rats initially classified as low cocaine responders (LCRs) more readily develop cocaine‐induced locomotor sensitization than those classified as high cocaine responders (HCRs). We used western blots to investigate LCR/HCR changes in AMPAR and NMDAR phosphorylation in the ventral tegmental area (VTA), dorsal striatum (dSTR), and nucleus accumbens (NAc) 40 min after either acute (10 mg/kg, i.p.) or repeated (10 mg/kg, i.p., once daily for 7 days) cocaine. Significant increases in phosphorylation over controls were observed only in LCRS: after acute cocaine at NMDAR NR2B‐Y1472 by 39% and 31% in NAc and dSTR, respectively, and after repeated cocaine at AMPAR GluR1‐Ser845 by 30% in dSTR. No differences were observed in VTA. Our results suggest that increased striatal NMDAR NR2B‐Y1472phosphorylationin LCRs after acute cocaine may contribute to their development of locomotor sensitization and increased AMPAR GluR1‐Ser845 phosphorylation in LCRs may help to maintain their increased locomotor response to a cocaine challenge after repeated dosing. Supported by DA004216, GM007635, DA015050.

Intrathecal injection of carbenoxolone, a gap junction decoupler, attenuates the induction of below-level neuropathic pain after spinal cord injury in rats

The most common type of chronic pain following spinal cord injury (SCI) is central neuropathic pain and SCI patients typically experience mechanical allodynia and thermal hyperalgesia. The present study was designed to examine the potential role of astrocyte gap junction connectivity in the induction and maintenance of “below-level” neuropathic pain in SCI rats. We examined the effect of intrathecal treatment with carbenoxolone (CARB), a gap junction decoupler, on SCI-induced bilateral thermal hyperalgesia and mechanical allodynia during the induction phase (postoperative days 0 to 5) and the maintenance phase (days 15 to 20) following T13 spinal cord hemisection. Immunohistochemistry was performed to determine potential SCI-induced changes in spinal astrocyte activation and phosphorylation of the NMDA receptor NR1 subunit (pNR1). CARB administered during the induction period dose-dependently attenuated the development of bilateral thermal hyperalgesia and mechanical allodynia. Intrathecal CARB also significantly reduced the bilateral SCI-induced increase in GFAP-immunoreactive (ir) staining and the number of pNR1-ir cell profiles in the spinal cord dorsal horn compared to vehicle-treated rats. In contrast, CARB treatment during the maintenance phase had no effect on the established thermal hyperalgesia and mechanical allodynia nor on spinal GFAP expression or the number of pNR1-ir cell profiles. These results indicate that gap junctions play a critical role in the activation of astrocytes distant from the site of SCI and in the subsequent phosphorylation of NMDA receptors in the lumbar spinal cord. Both of these processes appear to contribute to the induction of bilateral below-level pain in SCI rats.

Contribution of Primary Afferent Input to Trigeminal Astroglial Hyperactivity, Cytokine Induction and NMDA Receptor Phosphorylation.

We tested the hypothesis that primary afferent inputs play a role in astroglial hyperactivity after tissue injury. We first injected complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA, 0.05 ml, 1:1 oil/saline) into the masseter muscle, which upregulated glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), a marker of astrocytes, interleukin (IL)-1β an inflammatory cytokine, and phosphorylation of serine896 of the NR1 subunit (P-NR1) of the NMDA receptor in the subnuclei interpolaris/caudalis (Vi/Vc) transition zone, an important structure for processing trigeminal nociceptive input. Local anesthetic block with lidocaine (2%) of the masseter muscle at 10 min prior to injection of CFA into the same site significantly reduced the CFA-induced increase in GFAP, IL-1β and P-NR1 (p<0.05, n=4/group). We then tested the effect of peripheral electrical stimulation (ES). The ES protocol was burst stimulation consisting of trains of 4 square pulses (10-100 Hz, 0.1-3 mA, 0.5 ms pulse width). Under pentobarbital anesthesia, an ES was delivered every 0.2 s for a total of 30 min. The Vi/Vc tissues were processed for immunohistochemistry or western blot analysis at 10-120 min after ES. Compared to naive and SHAM-treated rats, there was increased immunoreactivity against GFAP, IL-1β and P-NR1 in the Vi/Vc in rats receiving ES. Double staining showed that IL-1β was selectively localized in GFAP-positive astroglia, and P-NR1-immunoreactivity was localized to neurons. These findings indicate that primary afferent inputs are necessary and sufficient to induce astroglial hyperactivity and upregulation of IL-1β, as well as neuronal NMDA receptor phosphorylation.

Transduced PDZ1 domain of PSD-95 decreases Src phosphorylation and increases nNOS (Ser847) phosphorylation contributing to neuroprotection after cerebral ischemia

Over-activation of NMDA receptor has been widely believed to be the main signal resulting in ischemic cell injury. We recently reported that the triplicate complex NR2A–PSD-95–Src is a signaling module to facilitate NMDA receptor over-activation. In addition, over-activation of NMDA receptor can activate another signaling molecule nNOS, which is also mediated by PSD-95 after cerebral ischemia. Here, we examined whether overexpression of the PDZ1 domain of PSD-95 could disrupt the functional interaction between NMDA receptor and PSD-95 in rat hippocampal CA1 region, and whether or not it could exert a neuroprotective effect against cerebral ischemia. Our results showed that overexpression of PDZ1 domain not only decreased the assembly of NR2A–PSD-95–Src signaling module and the auto-phosphorylation of Src, which mediates NMDA receptor phosphorylation, but also enhanced nNOS (Ser847) phosphorylation. Most importantly, overexpression of PDZ1 domain protected rat hippocampal CA1 neurons against cerebral ischemia injury. These results suggest that overexpression of the PDZ1 domain can perturb the binding of PSD-95 to NMDA receptor, suppress the activity of both NMDA receptor and nNOS, and thus have a neuroprotective effect.

Contribution of Primary Afferent Input to Trigeminal Astroglial Hyperactivity, Cytokine Induction and NMDA Receptor Phosphorylation

Contribution of Primary Afferent Input to Trigeminal Astroglial Hyperactivity, Cytokine Induction and NMDA Receptor Phosphorylation

Activity-Dependent Anchoring of Importin α at the Synapse Involves Regulated Binding to the Cytoplasmic Tail of the NR1-1a Subunit of the NMDA Receptor

Synaptic plasticity, the capacity of neurons to change the strength of their connections with experience, provides a mechanism for learning and memory in the brain. Long-term plasticity requires new transcription, indicating that synaptically generated signals must be transported to the nucleus. Previous studies have described a role for importin nuclear transport adaptors in mediating the retrograde transport of signals from synapse to nucleus during plasticity. Here, we investigated the possibility that stimulus-induced translocation of importins from synapse to nucleus involves activity-dependent anchoring of importins at the synapse. We show that importin alpha binds to a nuclear localization signal (NLS) present in the cytoplasmic tail of NR1-1a. This interaction is disrupted by activation of NMDA receptors in cultured neurons and by stimuli that trigger late-phase, but not early-phase, long-term potentiation of CA3-CA1 synapses in acute hippocampal slices. In vitro PKC phosphorylation of GST-NR1-1a abolishes its ability to bind importin alpha in brain lysates, and the interaction of importin alpha and NR1 in neurons is modulated by PKC activity. Together, our results indicate that importin alpha is tethered at the postsynaptic density by binding to the NLS present in NR1-1a. This interaction is activity dependent, with importin alpha being released following NMDA receptor activation and phosphorylation rendering it available to bind soluble cargoes and transport them to the nucleus during transcription-dependent forms of neuronal plasticity.

Experience-Dependent Regulation of NMDA Receptor Subunit Composition and Phosphorylation in the Retina and Visual Cortex

Purpose. Experimental manipulation of experience during development can have profound effects on the functioning of the resulting circuits. N-methyl-d-aspartate glutamate receptor (NMDAR) activity is required for the establishment and refinement of neural circuits during development. In the present study, the authors addressed the issue of experience-dependent regulation of NMDARs by examining the effects of visual experience and deprivation on subunit composition and subunit phosphorylation of NMDAR in the retina and visual cortex. Methods. Total homogenates were prepared from retinas and visual cortices of 30-day-old (P30) Wistar rats, raised either in a normal 12-hour light/12-hour dark cycle (normal-reared [NR]) or in complete darkness from birth (dark-reared [DR]). Some of the DR animals were exposed to light for 6 hours at P30 (DR+6h). Immunoblotting was performed for the NMDAR subunits, NR2A and NR2B, and for the phosphorylated NR2B subunit protein at serine 1303 (pNR2B-Ser1303). Results. Dark rearing for 1 month decreased the NR2A/NR2B ratio and increased the level of phosphorylation of NR2B subunit at Ser1303 in the retina and visual cortex. Light exposure at P30 reversed the effects of visual deprivation on NMDAR composition and NR2B phosphorylation in both regions. Conclusions. These results indicated that NMDAR subunit composition and NR2B phosphorylation at Ser1303 is regulated bidirectionally by visual experience and deprivation in rat retina and visual cortex.

NMDA Receptor Phosphorylation at a Site Affected in Schizophrenia Controls Synaptic and Behavioral Plasticity

Phosphorylation of the NR1 subunit of NMDA receptors (NMDARs) at serine (S) 897 is markedly reduced in schizophrenia patients. However, the role of NR1 S897 phosphorylation in normal synaptic function and adaptive behaviors are unknown. To address these questions, we generated mice in which the NR1 S897 is replaced with alanine (A). This knock-in mutation causes severe impairment in NMDAR synaptic incorporation and NMDAR-mediated synaptic transmission. Furthermore, the phosphomutant animals have reduced AMPA receptor (AMPAR)-mediated synaptic transmission, decreased AMPAR GluR1 subunit in the synapse, and impaired long-term potentiation. Finally, the mutant mice exhibit behavioral deficits in social interaction and sensorimotor gating. Our results suggest that an impairment in NR1 phosphorylation leads to glutamatergic hypofunction that can contribute to behavioral deficits associated with psychiatric disorders.

Intra-articular magnesium sulfate (MgSO 4) reduces experimental osteoarthritis and nociception: association with attenuation of N-methyl- d-aspartate (NMDA) receptor subunit 1 phosphorylation and apoptosis in rat chondrocytes

To study the effects of intra-articular injection of magnesium sulfate (MgSO(4)) on the development of osteoarthritis (OA) and to examine concomitant changes in the nociceptive behavior of rats. OA was induced in Wistar rats with intra-articular injection of collagenase (500 U) in the right knee; the left knee was left untreated. In the OA+MgSO(4) group (n=7), the treated knee was injected with 500-microg (0.1-ml) MgSO(4) twice a week for 5 consecutive weeks starting at 1 week after collagenase injection; in the OA group (n=7), the same knee was injected with the same amount of physiological normal saline. In the MgSO(4) group (n=6), naïve rats received only MgSO(4) injections; in the control group (n=6), naïve rats received only physiological normal saline injections. Nociceptive behavior (mechanical allodynia and thermal hyperalgesia) on OA development was measured before and at 1, 2, 4, 6, and 8 weeks after collagenase injection, following which the animals were sacrificed. Gross morphology and histopathology were examined in the femoral condyles, tibial plateau, and synovia. Immunohistochemical analysis was performed to examine the effect of MgSO(4) on N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor subunit 1 phosphorylation (p-NR1) and apoptosis in the articular cartilage chondrocytes. OA rats receiving intra-articular MgSO(4) injections showed a significantly lower degree of cartilage degeneration than the rats receiving saline injections. MgSO(4) treatment also suppressed synovitis. Mechanical allodynia and thermal hyperalgesia showed significant improvement in the OA+MgSO(4) group as compared to the OA group. Moreover, MgSO(4) attenuated p-NR1 and chondrocyte apoptosis in OA-affected cartilage. Our results indicate that local intra-articular administration of MgSO(4) following collagenase injection in an experimental rat OA model (1) modulates chondrocyte metabolism through inhibition of cell NMDA receptor phosphorylation and apoptosis, (2) attenuates the development of OA, and (3) concomitantly reduces nociception.

Growth Factor-Dependent Trafficking of Cerebellar NMDA Receptors via Protein Kinase B/Akt Phosphorylation of NR2C

NMDA receptor subunit composition varies throughout the brain, providing molecular diversity in NMDA receptor function. The NR2 subunits (NR2A-D) in large part dictate the distinct functional properties of NMDA receptors and differentially regulate receptor trafficking. Although the NR2C subunit is highly enriched in cerebellar granule cells and plays a unique role in cerebellar function, little is known about NR2C-specific regulation of NMDA receptors. Here, we demonstrate that PKB/Akt directly phosphorylates NR2C on serine 1096 (S1096). In addition, we identify 14-3-3epsilon as an NR2C interactor, whose binding is dependent on S1096 phosphorylation. Both growth factor stimulation and NMDA receptor activity lead to a robust increase in both phosphorylation of NR2C on S1096 and surface expression of cerebellar NMDA receptors. Finally, we find that NR2C expression, unlike NR2A and NR2B, supports neuronal survival. Thus, our data provide a direct mechanistic link between growth factor stimulation and regulation of cerebellar NMDA receptors.