Synapse-specific diversity of distinct postsynaptic GluN2 subtypes defines transmission strength in spinal lamina I.

ABSTRACT: The unitary postsynaptic response to presynaptic quantal glutamate release is the fundamental basis of excitatory information transfer between neurons. The view, however, of individual glutamatergic synaptic connections in a population as homogenous, fixed-strength units of neural communication is becoming increasingly scrutinized. Here, we used minimal stimulation of individual glutamatergic afferent axons to evoke single synapse resolution postsynaptic responses from central sensory lamina I neurons in an ex vivo adult rat spinal slice preparation. We detected unitary events exhibiting a NMDA receptor component with distinct kinetic properties across synapses conferred by specific GluN2 subunit composition, indicative of GluN2 subtype-based postsynaptic heterogeneity. GluN2A, 2A a

SUBMITTER: Pitcher GM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10368998 | biostudies-literature | 2023

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature