GLIAL UPTAKE OF INTRACEREBROVENTRICULARLY INJECTED D-SERINE IN THE RAT-BRAIN - AN IMMUNOCYTOCHEMICAL STUDY

Recent studies have shown that free D-serine, an agonist for the N-met hyl-D-aspartate receptor, is present in the forebrain of rats. In the present study, we raised antibodies against D-serine and examined the distribution of both endogenous and intracerebroventricularly administ ered D-serine in the rat forebrain by an immunocytochemical method. D- Serine-like immunoreactive cells were found in glial cells in the brai ns of the rats injected with D-serine into the lateral ventricle. No i mmunoreactive cells were seen in the brains of untreated rats. The res ults suggest that glial cells may accumulate and catabolize D-serine t o regulate the concentration of this neuroactive amino acid in the for ebrain.