Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Ligand-Gated Ion Channel Receptor: Gating Mechanism01:30

Ligand-Gated Ion Channel Receptor: Gating Mechanism

4.6K
Ligand-gated ion channels are transmembrane proteins that play a vital role in intercellular communication and functions of the nervous system. They allow the influx of ions across the membrane once the neurotransmitter binds, allowing the subsequent transmission of electrical excitation across the neurons. Other ligand-gated ion channels, like the γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) receptor, permit anions like chloride into the cells on the binding of the GABA molecule. Their entry into the cell...
4.6K
Long-term Potentiation01:25

Long-term Potentiation

3.8K
Long-term potentiation, or LTP, is one of the ways by which synaptic plasticity—changes in the strength of chemical synapses—can occur in the brain. LTP is the process of synaptic strengthening that occurs over time between pre and postsynaptic neuronal connections. The synaptic strengthening of LTP works in opposition to the synaptic weakening of long-term depression (LTD) and together are the main mechanisms that underlie learning and memory.
Hebbian LTP
LTP can occur when...
3.8K
Long-term Potentiation01:35

Long-term Potentiation

59.2K
Long-term potentiation, or LTP, is one of the ways by which synaptic plasticity—changes in the strength of chemical synapses—can occur in the brain. LTP is the process of synaptic strengthening that occurs over time between pre- and postsynaptic neuronal connections. The synaptic strengthening of LTP works in opposition to the synaptic weakening of long-term depression (LTD) and together are the main mechanisms that underlie learning and memory.
59.2K
Excitatory and Inhibitory Effects of Neurotransmitters01:29

Excitatory and Inhibitory Effects of Neurotransmitters

14.4K
When an action potential reaches the presynaptic axon terminal, it releases neurotransmitters from the neuron into the synaptic cleft at a chemical synapse. The released neurotransmitter can be excitatory or inhibitory. The critical criteria commonly used to determine whether a molecule is a neurotransmitter at a chemical synapse are the molecule's presence in the presynaptic neuron. Second, its release is in response to strong presynaptic depolarization. And lastly, the presence of...
14.4K
Long-term Depression01:03

Long-term Depression

3.5K
Long-term depression, or LTD, is one of the ways by which synaptic plasticity—changes in the strength of chemical synapses—can occur in the brain. LTD is the process of synaptic weakening that occurs over time between pre and postsynaptic neuronal connections. The synaptic weakening of LTD works in opposition to synaptic strengthening by long-term potentiation (LTP) and together are the main mechanisms that underlie learning and memory.
Calcium Ion Concentration Mechanism
If over...
3.5K
Chemical Synapses01:26

Chemical Synapses

7.0K
Chemical synapses are specialized sites between two neurons or between a neuron and a non-neuronal cell like a muscle, glandular or sensory cell.
Because chemical synapses depend on the release of neurotransmitter molecules from synaptic vesicles to pass on their signal, there is an approximately one millisecond delay between when the axon potential reaches the presynaptic terminal and when the neurotransmitter leads to opening of postsynaptic ion channels. Additionally, this signaling is...
7.0K

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Cryo-EM of autoantibody-bound NMDA receptors reveals antigenic hotspots in an active immunization model of anti-NMDAR encephalitis.

Science advances·2026
Same author

RT-Sort: An action potential propagation-based algorithm for real time spike detection and sorting with millisecond latencies.

PloS one·2024
Same author

Induction of Oxidative Stress and Alteration of Synaptic Gene Expression in Newborn Hippocampal Granule Cells after Developmental Exposure to Aroclor 1254.

Neuroendocrinology·2022
Same author

Functional neuronal circuitry and oscillatory dynamics in human brain organoids.

Nature communications·2022
Same author

Adaptive Mossy Cell Circuit Plasticity after Status Epilepticus.

The Journal of neuroscience : the official journal of the Society for Neuroscience·2022
Same author

Revisiting I-BAR Proteins at Central Synapses.

Frontiers in neural circuits·2022
Same journal

TRPC5 as a Modulator of TRPV1 Signalling in Pathological Pain States.

Neuropharmacology·2026
Same journal

Loss of mGlu<sub>5</sub> receptors from PV inhibitory neurons attenuates sex differences in ethanol and sucrose seeking.

Neuropharmacology·2026
Same journal

PM289, a synthetic CB2 in vitro receptor agonist, modulates morphine-induced antinociceptive effect and withdrawal syndrome in an animal model of osteoarthritic pain.

Neuropharmacology·2026
Same journal

Purinergic-cytokine signaling as a regulatory axis in neuroimmune development.

Neuropharmacology·2026
Same journal

Acupuncture Improves Depressive Symptoms and Prefrontal Cortical Function in Mild to Moderate Depressive Disorder: A Randomized Sham-Controlled Trial and fNIRS study.

Neuropharmacology·2026
Same journal

A staged zebrafish-mouse screening strategy for antiseizure compound prioritization.

Neuropharmacology·2026
See all related articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Mar 15, 2026

A High-throughput Calcium-flux Assay to Study NMDA-receptors with Sensitivity to Glycine/D-serine and Glutamate
04:48

A High-throughput Calcium-flux Assay to Study NMDA-receptors with Sensitivity to Glycine/D-serine and Glutamate

Published on: July 10, 2018

9.8K

Modulating synaptic NMDA receptors.

Kenneth R Tovar1, Gary L Westbrook1

  • 1Vollum Institute, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR 97239, United States.

Neuropharmacology
|August 28, 2016
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Understanding NMDA receptor activation time course is key for developing new therapeutics. Modulating these glutamate receptors offers novel treatment strategies for neurological conditions.

Keywords:
NeuronsSynapsesglutamate receptors

More Related Videos

A High-content Assay for Monitoring AMPA Receptor Trafficking
10:34

A High-content Assay for Monitoring AMPA Receptor Trafficking

Published on: January 28, 2019

8.1K
One-channel Cell-attached Patch-clamp Recording
13:07

One-channel Cell-attached Patch-clamp Recording

Published on: June 9, 2014

25.6K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Mar 15, 2026

A High-throughput Calcium-flux Assay to Study NMDA-receptors with Sensitivity to Glycine/D-serine and Glutamate
04:48

A High-throughput Calcium-flux Assay to Study NMDA-receptors with Sensitivity to Glycine/D-serine and Glutamate

Published on: July 10, 2018

9.8K
A High-content Assay for Monitoring AMPA Receptor Trafficking
10:34

A High-content Assay for Monitoring AMPA Receptor Trafficking

Published on: January 28, 2019

8.1K
One-channel Cell-attached Patch-clamp Recording
13:07

One-channel Cell-attached Patch-clamp Recording

Published on: June 9, 2014

25.6K

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Pharmacology
  • Molecular Biology

Background:

  • Recent structural data on ligand-gated glutamate receptors and novel clinical applications for NMDA receptor antagonists have increased interest in their mechanisms of action.
  • While voltage-dependence and calcium permeability of NMDA receptors are understood, the time course of synaptic activation is a critical, yet less explored, modulator of synaptic response.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To explore the factors influencing the time course of synaptic NMDA receptor activation.
  • To propose new therapeutic strategies targeting modulatory sites on NMDA receptors.

Main Methods:

  • Review of recent structural and kinetic data on NMDA receptors.
  • Analysis of endogenous and exogenous ligand effects on NMDA receptor activation kinetics.

Main Results:

  • The time course of NMDA receptor-mediated EPSCs can be modulated by ligands, not just subunit composition.
  • In situ receptor composition and kinetic behavior offer insights into synaptic function.

Conclusions:

  • Targeting NMDA receptor modulatory sites presents promising therapeutic opportunities.
  • Emerging structural and kinetic data provide a roadmap for developing novel NMDA receptor-based therapeutics.