| First Author | Errico F | Year | 2008 |
| Journal | Mol Cell Neurosci | Volume | 37 |
| Issue | 2 | Pages | 236-46 |
| PubMed ID | 17981050 | Mgi Jnum | J:132602 |
| Mgi Id | MGI:3776348 | Doi | 10.1016/j.mcn.2007.09.012 |
| Citation | Errico F, et al. (2008) Increased levels of d-aspartate in the hippocampus enhance LTP but do not facilitate cognitive flexibility. Mol Cell Neurosci 37(2):236-46 |
| abstractText | 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. |
