Synaptic effects of xenon on NMDA receptor-mediated response in rat spinal neuron

To investigate the precise mechanism of xenon (Xe), pharmacologically isolated AMPA/KA and NMDA receptor-mediated spontaneous (s) and evoked (e) excitatory postsynaptic currents (s/eEPSCAMPA/KA and s/eEPSCNMDA) were recorded from mechanically isolated single spinal sacral dorsal commissural nucleus (SDCN) neurons attached with glutamatergic nerve endings (boutons) using conventional whole-cell patch-clamp technique. We analysed kinetic properties of both s/eEPSCAMPA/KA and s/eEPSCNMDA by focal single- and/or paired-pulse electrical stimulation to compare them. The s/eEPSCNMDA showed smaller amplitude, slower rise time, and slower 1/e decay time constant (τDecay) than those of s/eEPSCAMPA/KA. We previously examined how Xe modulates s/eEPSCAMPA/KA, therefore, examined the effects on s/eEPSCNMDA in the present study. Xe decreased the frequency and amplitude of sEPSCNMDA, and decreased the amplitude but increased the failure rate and paired-pulse ratio of eEPSCNMDA without affecting their τDecay. It was concluded that Xe might suppress NMDA receptor-mediated synaptic transmission via both presynaptic and postsynaptic mechanisms. © 2024