Abstract
Despite its implications for higher order functions of the brain, little is currently known about the molecular basis of left-right asymmetry of the brain. Here we report that synaptic distribution of N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor GluRepsilon2 (NR2B) subunits in the adult mouse hippocampus is asymmetrical between the left and right and between the apical and basal dendrites of single neurons. These asymmetrical allocations of epsilon2 subunits differentiate the properties of NMDA receptors and synaptic plasticity between the left and right hippocampus. These results provide a molecular basis for the structural and functional asymmetry of the mature brain.
Publication types
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
MeSH terms
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Animals
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Bicuculline / pharmacology
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Dendrites / metabolism
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Dendrites / physiology
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Denervation
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Electric Stimulation
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Excitatory Amino Acid Antagonists / pharmacology
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Excitatory Postsynaptic Potentials
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Functional Laterality*
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Hippocampus / metabolism*
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Hippocampus / physiology
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In Vitro Techniques
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Long-Term Potentiation
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Mice
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Mice, Inbred C57BL
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Neuronal Plasticity
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Patch-Clamp Techniques
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Perforant Pathway / physiology
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Phenols / pharmacology
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Piperidines / pharmacology
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Pyramidal Cells / metabolism*
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Pyramidal Cells / physiology
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Quinoxalines / pharmacology
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Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate / antagonists & inhibitors
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Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate / metabolism*
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Synapses / physiology
Substances
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Excitatory Amino Acid Antagonists
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NR2B NMDA receptor
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Phenols
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Piperidines
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Quinoxalines
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Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate
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Ro 25-6981
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FG 9041
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Bicuculline