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  • Title: Increased levels of d-aspartate in the hippocampus enhance LTP but do not facilitate cognitive flexibility.
    Author: Errico F, Nisticò R, Palma G, Federici M, Affuso A, Brilli E, Topo E, Centonze D, Bernardi G, Bozzi Y, D'Aniello A, Di Lauro R, Mercuri NB, Usiello A.
    Journal: Mol Cell Neurosci; 2008 Feb; 37(2):236-46. PubMed ID: 17981050.
    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.
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