NMDA receptors contribute to synaptic transmission in anterior cingulate cortex of adult mice.

Glutamatergic synapses are common excitatory chemical connections in mammalian central nervous system. At these synapses, most of baseline synaptic transmission is mediated by glutamate AMPA receptors. NMDA receptors that are sensitive to voltage-dependent magnesium blockade selectively contribute to activity-dependent synaptic plasticity. However, inhibition of NMDA receptors by systemic or local administration of NMDA receptor antagonists produced significant effects on different physiological functions that are not believed to depend on NMDA receptor related synaptic plasticity. Here we show that NMDA receptors contribute to synaptic responses in the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC), a region important for cognitive and other brain functions. The contribution of NMDA receptors became more prominent when synapses are stimulated at higher frequencies. Furthermore, at temperatures more close to physiological brain temperatures, more NMDA receptor mediated responses were recorded as compared to the room temperature. These data suggest a new function for NMDA receptors in the ACC as important postsynaptic receptors involved in synaptic transmission, in particular when cells are firing at high frequencies.