Excitatory amino acid receptors participate in synaptic transmission of visual responses in the superficial layers of the cat superior colliculus.

The contribution of NMDA and non-NMDA receptors to visual synaptic transmission in the superficial layers of the superior colliculus of the cat has been studied using extracellular recording and iontophoretic techniques. Neuronal responses to natural visual stimulation and the ejection of NMDA and AMPA were observed in the absence and presence of the antagonists CNQX, CPP and AP5. CNQX routinely reduced the responses to visual stimulation at ejection currents which selectively blocked the responses to AMPA but not those to NMDA. Agonist selective ejection currents of CPP and AP5 also reduced visual responses of most SC neurons, but there was a substantial majority whose visual responses were resistant to these antagonists. Neurons with CPP/AP5 resistant visual responses were more commonly found 750-1000 microns from the dorsal surface of the SC. The data indicate that, while non-NMDA receptors are heavily involved in visual synaptic transmission in the superficial SC, the involvement of NMDA receptors varies with recording depth.