Endogenous d-Serine in Rat Brain: N-Methyl-d-Aspartate Receptor-Related Distribution and Aging |
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| Authors: | Atsushi Hashimoto† Toru Nishikawa Takae Oka Kiyohisa Takahashi |
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| Institution: | Division of Mental Disorder Research, National Institute of Neuroscience, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, Tokyo;Tsukuba Research Laboratory, Nippon Oil &Fats, Co., Ltd., Ibaraki, Japan |
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| Abstract: | Abstract: Recently, a substantial amount of free d -serine has been demonstrated in rat brain, although it has long been presumed that d -amino acids are uncommon in mammals. The anatomical distribution and age-related changes in endogenous d -serine have been examined here to obtain insight into its physiological functions. Free d -serine exclusively occurs in brains, with a persistent high content from birth to at least 86 postnatal weeks. The patterns of the regional variations and the postnatal changes in brain d -serine are closely correlated with those of the N -methyl- d -aspartate (NMDA)-type excitatory amino acid receptor. Because d -serine potentiates NMDA receptor-mediated transmission by selective stimulation of the strychnine-insensitive glycine site of the NMDA receptor, it is proposed that d -serine is a novel candidate as an intrinsic ligand for the glycine site in mammalian brain. |
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| Keywords: | d-Serine Glycine Strychnine-insensitive glycine site N-Methyl-d-aspartate receptor Development Distribution |
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