5 These results suggest that: (i) divalent cations do not antagonize NMDLA responses by blocking Ca2+ channels which may mediate the response; (ii) postsynaptic NMDA receptors are activated by a neurotransmitter involved in the DR-DRP and DR-VRP pathways but not by any neurotransmitters involved in the VR-DRP pathway; (iii) the neurotransmitter activating NMDA receptors in amphibian spinal cord may be an aspartate-like substance rather than aspartate itself or glutamate.
IntoductionThe acidic amino acids, L-glutamate and L-aspartate, are putative excitatory neurotransmitters in the central nervous system (CNS) (Krnjevic, 1974;Puil, 1981 . Certain lines of evidence support a role for calcium ions in the electrogenesis of responses to acidic amino acids (Sonnhof & Btihrle, 1981;Padjen & Smith, 1981;Puil,1981;butseealso Shapavolov, Shiriaev &Velumain, 1978 and McDonald &Wojtowicz, 1980;. Calcium influx may be especially important for responses evoked by DL-homocysteic acid, an agonist thought to act on NMDA receptors (Heinemann & Pumain, 1981). Recently, Co2+ and Mg2+ have been shown to be selective and highly potent antagonists at NMDA receptors (Ault, Evans, Francis, Oakes & Watkins, 0007-1188/82/100363-11 $01.00 1981). Since these ions are known to block calcium channels (Katz & Miledi, 1967; Alvarez-Leefmans, DeSantis & Miledi, 1979) (Blackman, Ginsborg & Ray, 1963