We PF-01367338 provide evidence for the exchange of Ca2+-permeable for quasi-Ca2+-impermeable NMDARs that occurs together with a switch from CI-AMPARs to CP-AMPARs. We identify GluN3A as the determinant subunit for the Ca2+ permeability of these nonconventional NMDARs and show that GluN3A-containing NMDARs are necessary for the expression of cocaine-evoked plasticity in the VTA. Importantly, together with previous studies (Bellone

and Lüscher, 2006 and Mameli et al., 2007) we find mGluR1 signaling as the common molecular mechanism responsible for restoring basal excitatory transmission (AMPAR and NMDAR) after cocaine exposure (see Figure 8 for NMDARs and Bellone and Lüscher, 2012 for AMPARs). Our data therefore strongly support the idea that mGluR1 signaling controls the GluN3A content at excitatory synapses onto DA neurons. NMDARs

are heteromeric receptors that can be classified based on their subunit composition. Three subunit families have been cloned so far based on sequence homology: GluN1, GluN2 (A-D), and GluN3 (A-B). While GluN1 is the obligatory subunit, GluN2 and GluN3 subunits determine the functional heterogeneity of NMDARs (Monyer et al., 1994 and Traynelis et al., 2010). The existence of specific modulators for GluN2 subunits, such as ifenprodil or Zn2+, facilitates the study of the functional properties of NMDARs (Paoletti, 2011). Pharmacological

GluN3A modulators selleck compound are not available, but data derived from expression systems indicate that the presence of GluN3A is responsible for low channel conductance, low Ca2+ permeability, and low Mg2+ sensitivity (Das et al., 1998, Perez-Otano et al., 2001, Tong et al., Histone demethylase 2008 and Paoletti et al., 2013). Both diheteromeric and triheteromeric complexes formed by GluN1 with one or two different GluN2 subunits exist (Al-Hallaq et al., 2007 and Gray et al., 2011). Moreover, transgenic animal models infer the existence of triheteromeric GluN1/GluN2/GluN3 receptors (Das et al., 1998 and Tong et al., 2008). Recordings of DA neurons of the VTA after cocaine exposure lead to the observation of decreased NMDAR-EPSCs (Mameli et al., 2011) along with very low Ca2+ permeability and low Mg2+ sensitivity, suggesting the insertion of GluN3A-containing NMDARs at VTA DA synapses. In addition, the change in ifenprodil and Zn2+ sensitivity, concomitant with an increase in the decay time kinetics, indicates a switch in the relative contribution of GluN2A and GluN2B following cocaine exposure. Since ifenprodil partially inhibits NMDAR-EPSCs in saline-treated mice, we cannot exclude the presence of GluN1/GluN2A/GluN2B triheteromers in baseline conditions at juvenile synapses.