Research article summary (published 3 Oct 2007):

Increased levels of d-aspartate in the hippocampus enhance LTP but do not facilitate cognitive flexibility.

Full Abstract

In the present study, we demonstrate a direct role for d-aspartate in regulating hippocampal synaptic plasticity. These evidences were obtained using two different experimental strategies which enabled a non-physiological increase of endogenous d-aspartate levels in the mouse hippocampus: a genetic approach based on the targeted deletion of d-aspartate oxidase gene and another based on the oral administration of d-aspartate. Overall, our results indicate that increased d-aspartate content does not affect basal properties of synaptic transmission but enhances long-term potentiation in hippocampal slices from both genetic and pharmacological animal models. Besides electrophysiological data, behavioral analysis suggests that altered levels of d-aspartate in the hippocampus do not perturb basal spatial learning and memory abilities, but may selectively interfere with the dynamic NMDAR-dependent processes underlying cognitive flexibility.

Author information

Author/s: Errico, Francesco (F); Nisticò, Robert (R); Palma, Giuseppe (G); Federici, Mauro (M); Affuso, Andrea (A); Brilli, Elisa (E); Topo, Enza (E); Centonze, Diego (D); Bernardi, Giorgio (G); Bozzi, Yuri (Y); D'Aniello, Antimo (A); Di Lauro, Roberto (R); Mercuri, Nicola B (NB); Usiello, Alessandro (A);

Affiliation: Laboratory of Behavioral Neuroscience, CEINGE Biotecnologie Avanzate, Naples, Italy.

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article

Journal: Molecular and cellular neurosciences (Mol Cell Neurosci), published in United States. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2008-Feb; vol 37 (issue 2) : pp 236-46

Dates: Created 2008/02/04; Completed 2008/04/25;

PMID: 17981050, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 2/18/2009, IMS Date: )

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

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MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MESH Headings shown below.

Animals Aspartic Acid - metabolism; pharmacology Cognition - drug effects; physiology D-Aspartate Oxidase - genetics Hippocampus - drug effects; metabolism Long-Term Potentiation - drug effects; genetics Male Maze Learning - drug effects; physiology

Memory - drug effects; physiology Memory Disorders - genetics; metabolism; physiopathology Mice Mice, Inbred C57BL Mice, Knockout Organ Culture Techniques Synaptic Transmission - drug effects; genetics Up-Regulation - drug effects; genetics

Associated Chemicals: Aspartic Acid (56-84-8) ; D-Aspartate Oxidase (EC 1.4.3.1)

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