Glutamate and NMDA affect cell excitability and action potential dynamics of single cell of macrophyte Nitellopsis obtusa.

The effect of glutamate and N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) on electrical signalling - action potentials (AP) and excitation current transients - was studied in intact macrophyte Nitellopsis obtusa (Characeaen) internodal cell. Intracellular glass electrode recordings of single cell in current clamp and two-electrode voltage clamp modes indicate that glutamate (Glu, 0.1-1.0 mM) and NMDA (0.01-1.0 mM) increase electrically induced AP amplitude by hyperpolarising excitation threshold potential (Eth) and prolong AP fast repolarisation phase. Amplitude of Cl- current transient, as well as its activation and inactivation durations were also increased. Both Glu and NMDA act in a dose-dependent manner. The effect of NMDA exceeds that of Glu. Ionotropic glutamate receptor inhibitors AP-5 (NMDA-type receptors) and DNQX (AMPA/Kainate-type) have no effect on Nitellopsis cell electrical signalling per se, yet robustly inhibit excitatory effect of NMDA. This study reinforces NMDA as an active component in glutamatergic signalling at least in some plants and stresses the elaborate fine-tuning of electrical signalling.