The ontogeny of glutamate receptors and D-aspartate binding sites in the ovine CNS

Brain Res Dev Brain Res. 1999 Dec 10;118(1-2):69-77. doi: 10.1016/s0165-3806(99)00131-5.

Abstract

The ontogeny of ligand binding to N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA), alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid (AMPA) and kainate (KA) receptors and to the high affinity, sodium-dependent D-aspartate binding site in prenatal and postnatal ovine brains was studied using quantitative in vitro autoradiography. In general, the binding density for each of the excitatory amino acid receptors peaked during late prenatal and early postnatal development. In contrast, binding density for D-aspartate remained low during late prenatal and early postnatal development and peaked in the adult. These data suggest that an excess number of excitatory amino acid receptors and/or a relative deficiency of transporters may make the immature brain more vulnerable to the pathologic effects of glutamate and other related excitatory amino acids.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Aging / metabolism*
  • Animals
  • Animals, Newborn / growth & development
  • Animals, Newborn / metabolism*
  • Aspartic Acid / metabolism*
  • Autoradiography
  • Binding Sites
  • Brain / embryology*
  • Brain / metabolism*
  • Embryonic and Fetal Development / physiology
  • Fetus / metabolism
  • Fetus / physiology
  • Glutamic Acid / metabolism
  • Kainic Acid / metabolism
  • N-Methylaspartate / metabolism
  • Receptors, Glutamate / metabolism*
  • Sheep / embryology
  • alpha-Amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic Acid / metabolism

Substances

  • Receptors, Glutamate
  • Aspartic Acid
  • Glutamic Acid
  • N-Methylaspartate
  • alpha-Amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic Acid
  • Kainic Acid