N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors contribute to excitatory postsynaptic potentials of cat lateral geniculate neurons recorded in thalamic slices.

Neurons of the cat's dorsal lateral geniculate nucleus were recorded intracellularly to study the contribution of N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors to excitatory postsynaptic potentials (EPSPs) and low-threshold calcium spikes. EPSPs were evoked by stimulation of retinogeniculate axons in the optic tract and/or corticogeniculate axons in the optic radiations; EPSPs from both sources were similar. These EPSPs had one or two components, and the second component had several characteristics of NMDA receptor-mediated events. For example, EPSP amplitude decreased when neurons were hyperpolarized and increased when stimulus frequency was increased; these EPSPs could also be blocked reversibly by application of the selective NMDA receptor antagonist DL-2-amino-5-phosphonovaleric acid (APV). We also studied the influence of NMDA receptors on low-threshold calcium spikes, which are large, voltage- and calcium-dependent depolarizations that are often accompanied by high-frequency action potential discharge. APV blocked synaptically activated low-threshold calcium spikes, but APV had no effect on low-threshold calcium spikes that were elicited by current injection. Therefore, APV does not appear to have a direct effect on the T-type calcium channel that is involved in generation of low-threshold calcium spikes. The voltage and frequency dependence of the NMDA receptor-mediated component of the EPSPs, as well as its ability to trigger low-threshold calcium spikes, provide for complex signal processing in the lateral geniculate nucleus.