The Effects of Repeated Electroconvulsive Shock on the Expression of NMDA Receptor Subunits in the Rat Hippocampus / 신경정신의학

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: The N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor plays an important role in synaptic plasticity. The functional NMDA receptor is an oligomer of several subunits and the most abundant subunits in the brain are NR1, NR2A and NR2B. The function of the NMDA receptor is regulated by protein phosphorylation and by changes in the level of protein expression. The present study examined the effect of repeated electroconvulsive shock (ECS), an effective antidepressant and antipsychotic measure, on the expression of NMDA receptor subunit proteins in the rat hippocampus. METHODS: Male Sprague-Dawley rats were given 1, 5, or 10 consecutive daily ECS and the amounts of NR1, NR2A, and NR2B in the hippocampus were assessed by the immunoblot analysis. RESULTS: The expression levels of NR1 and NR2A subunits were found positively correlated with the number of treatment. However, there was no evidence of NR2B regulation by ECS. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest the action of ECS in the regulation of the NMDA receptor, and hence in the regulation of synaptic plasticity.