Altered NR2A/NR2B ratio in hippocampus of spatial learning-impaired aged rats

Abstract

The activation of the N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) is critical for the induction of synaptic plasticity in the hippocampus. Aging can alter glutamatergic synaptic transmission in the hippocampus, and cognitive impairments in aged animals are accompanied by reduced NMDARmediated plasticity at Schaffer collateral—CA1 synapses. However, the specific contribution of NMDAR subunits to NMDAR-mediated synaptic responses in aged tissue has not yet been fully understood. The main purpose of present study was to examine whether there is an impact of aging on NMDAR subunit expression and whether synaptic plasticity may depend on NMDAR subunit composition in the aged hippocampus.