Presynaptic effects of NMDA receptors enhance parvalbumin cell-mediated inhibition of pyramidal cells in mouse prefrontal cortex

Testing hypotheses regarding the role of N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) hypofunction in schizophrenia requires understanding the mechanisms of NMDAR regulation of prefrontal cortex (PFC) circuit function. NMDAR antagonists are thought to produce pyramidal cell (PC) disinhibition. However, inhibitory parvalbumin-positive basket cells (PVBCs) have modest NMDAR-mediated excitatory drive, and thus are unlikely to participate in NMDAR antagonist-mediated disinhibition. Interestingly, recent studies demonstrated that presynaptic NMDARs enhance transmitter release at central synapses.
Source: Biological Psychiatry - Category: Psychiatry Authors: Tags: Archival Report Source Type: research