FIGURE 1.

Effect of NR2A and NR2B antagonists on dendritic spine morphology in MSNs. A, left panel: sample traces of the NMDA isolated currents at +40 mV before and after bath application of the NR2A selective antagonist NVP-AAM077 (300 nm). Right panel: sample traces of the NMDA-isolated currents (+40 mV) before and after the application of the NR2B subunit antagonist ifenprodil (10 μm). Shown is a bar graph showing the effects of NVP-AAM077 300 nm (t test; **, p < 0.01, pre- versus post-application 36.42 ± 5.1%; n = 4) and ifenprodil (t test; ***, p < 0.001, pre- versus post-application, 41.51 ± 6.49%; n = 6) on the NMDA-EPSC amplitude. B, Western blot analysis of NR2A and NR2B subunits and tubulin performed from the TIF obtained from control, NVP-AAM077 (NVP, 300 nm) and ifenprodil-treated (10 μm) corticostriatal slices. The same amount of proteins was loaded in each lane. The graph displays the results of Western blot analysis expressed as control percentage. C, Western blot analysis of D1 receptor and tubulin performed from TIF obtained from control, NVP-AAM077 (NVP, 300 nm) and ifenprodil-treated (10 μm) corticostriatal slices. The same amount of proteins was loaded in each lane. The graph displays the results of Western blot analysis expressed as control percentage. D, diagram showing relative average spines head width (t test; **, p < 0.005, NVP-AAM077 versus control; n > 500 spines from 10 different neurons for each group) of MSNs from control or NVP-AAM077-treated rats. Representative images show dendrites of medium spiny neurons from control or NVP-AAM077-treated corticostriatal slices. E, diagram showing relative average spines head width of medium spiny neurons from control or ifenprodil-treated corticostriatal slices (t test; p > 0.05, ifenprodil versus control, n > 500 spines from 10 different neurons for each group). Representative images show dendrites of MSNs from control or ifenprodil-treated corticostriatal slices.