2014 Fiscal Year Final Research Report
Elucidation of the mechanisms of the release of D-serine and the regulation of the activity of synaptic and extrasynaptic NMDA receptors
| Project/Area Number |
25640005
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| Research Category |
Grant-in-Aid for Challenging Exploratory Research
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| Allocation Type | Multi-year Fund |
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| Research Field |
Neurophysiology / General neuroscience
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| Research Institution | The University of Tokyo |
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Principal Investigator |
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| Project Period (FY) |
2013-04-01 – 2015-03-31
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| Keywords | 神経科学 / 脳・神経 / 遺伝子 / 神経伝達物質受容体 / シナプス伝達 |
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| Outline of Final Research Achievements |
The NMDA receptor is associated with the modulation of synaptic transmission in the central nervous system and is related not only to the regulation of higher brain functions such as learning and memory but also to the etiology of various psychiatrical and neurological disorders at the level of the whole animal. The activation of NMDA receptors requires the binding of glutamate as well as the coagonist D-serine. In this project, we have found that the effects of D-serine on NMDA receptors in the CA1 region of the mouse hippocampal slice are different between synaptic and extrasynaptic NMDA receptors. Furthermore, we have obtained preliminary data suggesting the possibility that there is some abnormality in synaptic plasticity in the knockout mouse lacking serine racemase that produces D-serine in the brain.
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| Free Research Field |
神経科学
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