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Potential roles of D‐serine and serine racemase in experimental temporal lobe epilepsy
Author(s) -
Ryu H.J.,
Kim J.E.,
Yeo S.I.,
Kim D.S.,
Kwon O.S.,
Choi S.Y.,
Kang T.C.
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
journal of neuroscience research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.72
H-Index - 160
eISSN - 1097-4547
pISSN - 0360-4012
DOI - 10.1002/jnr.22415
Subject(s) - serine , epilepsy , nmda receptor , biology , phosphorylation , receptor , chemistry , biochemistry , neuroscience
To confirm the roles of D‐serinergic gliotransmission in epilepsy, we investigated the relationship between spatiotemporally specific glial responses and the D‐serine/serine racemase system in mesial temporal structures following status epilepticus (SE). In control animals, D‐serine and serine racemase immunoreactivities were detected mainly in astrocytes. After SE, D‐serine and serine racemase immunoreactivities were increased in astrocytes. Double‐immunofluorescence study revealed that up‐regulation of serine racemase immunoreactivity was relevant not to D‐serine immunoreactivity but to nestin or vimentin immunoreactivity. Neither D‐serine nor serine racemase was found in naïve or reactive microglia. In addition, phosphorylated N‐methyl‐D‐aspartate (NMDA) receptor subunit 1 (pNR1‐Ser896) immunoreactivity in the hippocampus was increased compared with controls. Increased D‐serine immunoreactivity showed direct correlation with the phosphorylation of Ser896 of NR1. Given the findings of our previous study, these findings suggest that D ‐serine and serine racemase in astrocytes may play roles in neuronal hyperexcitability via a cooperative activation of NMDA receptors. Furthermore, serine racemase may be involved in migration and differentiation of immature astrocytes, which is relevant to reactive astrogliosis. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.