Enhancement of desensitization of quisqualate-type glutamate receptor by the dissociative anaesthetic ketamine

M. L. J. Ashford, P. Boden, R. L. Ramsey, P. N. R. Usherwood

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

    12 Citations (Scopus)

    Abstract

    Application of ketamine (10-4-10-3mol l-1) to locust retractor unguis muscle produced a reversible, dose-dependent reduction in neurally evoked twitches, and blocked agonist-induced contractions. With increasing ketamine concentration (5 x 10-5-10-3 mol l-1), the amplitude of glutamate potentials was reduced and dose-response curves for ionophoresis of L-glutamate were shifted to the right, particularly after concanavalin A treatment. Ketamine (10-4 mol l-1) enhanced the rate of desensitization to consecutive pulses of L-glutamate and this action was eliminated by concanavalin A. The amplitude of the excitatory postsynaptic current (EPSC) was reduced by ketamine (10-5-5 x 10-4 mol l-1) in a dose-dependent manner but without a concomitant reduction in EPSC rise time. The decay phase of the EPSC was usually biphasic in the presence of ketamine (>5 x 10-5 mol l-1) but did not exhibit any voltage dependence. It is concluded that ketamine enhances desensitization and blocks the channel, particularly the closed form.

    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)73-86
    Number of pages14
    JournalJournal of Experimental Biology
    Volume141
    Publication statusPublished - 1 Jan 1989

    Keywords

    • Animals
    • Quisqualic Acid
    • Neuromuscular Junction
    • Oxadiazoles
    • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
    • Glutamic Acid
    • Receptors, Glutamate
    • Ion Channels
    • Muscles
    • Action Potentials
    • Grasshoppers
    • Concanavalin A
    • Kinetics
    • Receptors, Neurotransmitter
    • Ketamine
    • Membrane Potentials
    • Glutamates
    • Muscle Contraction

    Fingerprint

    Dive into the research topics of 'Enhancement of desensitization of quisqualate-type glutamate receptor by the dissociative anaesthetic ketamine'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

    Cite this