Reduced Mg2+ blockade of synaptically activated N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor-channels in CA1 pyramidal neurons in kainic acid-lesioned rat hippocampus

Unilateral kainic acid lesion in the hippocampus caused a long-term change in the balance between excitatory and inhibitory drive onto CA1 pyramidal cells, making these cells hyperexcitable several weeks post-lesion. In this study, we have shown an enhanced N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor-mediated component in the excitatory synaptic transmission together with a reduced GABA(A) receptor-mediated inhibition in CA1 pyramidal cells one-week post kainic acid lesion. In these cells, pharmacologically isolated N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor-mediated whole-cell excitatory postsynaptic currents were significantly larger at negative holding potentials, and the voltage-dependence of N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor channels was shifted in the hyperpolarizing direction. The plot of relative conductance (g/gMax) shifted significantly (P