N-methyl-D-aspartate-induced oscillations in whole cell clamped neurons from the isolated spinal cord of Xenopus laevis embryos

The patch-clamp technique was used to measure the effect of N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) on Xenopus embryonic neurons in an isolated, but intact spinal cord. Whole cell recordings were done: at external calcium concentrations of 1 mM. NMDA alone (50-200 mu M) Or in association with 10 mu M serotonin or glycine induced oscillatory activity in most presumed motoneurons, which were therefore considered part of rhythm generating networks. In the presence of TTX, one-half of these neurons maintained this activity. The oscillations fell into two main categories: voltage-dependent, low-frequency (0.3-0.5 Hz) and voltage-independent, high-frequency (3-8 Hz) oscillations. NMDA alone induced TTX-insensitive oscillations in one-third of the neurons; however, the percentage of neurons showing oscillations was greater in the presence of exogenous 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) or glycine. Because these observations were made at embryonic stages where little or no serotonergic innervation exists, it is likely that NMDA-induced intrinsic oscillatory activity in:Xenopus embryonic neurons does not require 5-HT.