Downregulation of calcium-dependent NMDA receptor desensitization by sodium-calcium exchangers: a role of membrane cholesterol

摘要

BackgroundThe plasma membrane Na⁺/Ca²⁺-exchanger (NCX) has recently been shown to regulate Ca²⁺-dependent N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) desensitization, suggesting a tight interaction of NCXs and NMDARs in lipid nanoclasters or “rafts”. To evaluate possible role of this interaction we studied effects of Li⁺ on NMDA-elicited whole-cell currents and Ca²⁺ responses of rat cortical neurons in vitro before and after cholesterol extraction by methyl-β-cyclodextrin (MβCD).