D-α-Aminoadipate as a selective antagonist of amino acid-induced and synaptic excitation of mammalian spinal neurones

The nature of the excitatory transmitter mediating X and Y cell inputs to the cat dorsal lateral geniculate nucleus

“…Our primary interest was in the antagonist effect on the visual response and we made no attempt to systematically check previous findings concerning the selectivity of antagonist effects on the response to the various agonists ; Biscoe et al 1978). When two agonists were used, however, we were able to obtain some relevant information on this matter and our findings were largely consistent with the antagonist's known selectivity.…”

“…The failure of DAP to selectively antagonize visual driving is slightly puzzling because its specificity is considered to be very similar to that of D-ac-AA and HA-966 (Biscoe et al 1978;Evans et al 1978). At present excitatory amino acid receptors are generally viewed as being of two types, one that is best activated by the aspartate analogue, NMDA and another that is activated by the glutamate analogue, kainate (Watkins, 1980), although there is some evidence favouring the possibility of a third type activated byL-glutamate and quisqualate (McLennan & Lodge, 1979).…”

“…The antagonists used comprise two recently developed substances, D-ac-aminoadipate (D-a-AA) and DL-ox-e-diaminopimelic acid (DAP) that have been reported to effectively block synaptic excitation at some sites in the spinal cord (Evans, Francis & Watkins, 1978;Biscoe, Davies, Dray, Evans, Martin & Watkins, 1978), together with tro previously used by Tebecis (1973), HA-966 and GDEE. These are thought to interact with post-synaptic excitatory amino acid receptors (Watkins, 1980).…”

Amino Acids as Neurotransmitters of Corticofugal Neurones in the Rat: A Comparison of Glutamate and Aspartate

“…It has been claimed (Biscoe, Davies, Dray, Evans, Francis, Martin & Watkins, 1977a;McLennan & Hall, 1978) that a-aminoadipate is a more specific antagonist of the excitatory amino acids than the hitherto used compounds such as glutamic acid diethylester and 1-hydroxy-3-amino pyrrolidone-2 (Davies & Watkins, 1973;Stone, 1976). The D-isomer of a-aminoadipic acid has been shown to be responsible for the antagonism (Biscoe, Headley, Lodge, Martin & Watkins, 1976;Biscoe et al, 1977a; Biscoe, Evans, Francis, Martin, Watkins, Davies & Dray, 1977b;McLennan & Hall, 1978).…”

A comparison between the in vivo and in vitro activity of five potent and competitive NMDA antagonists

“…Dicarboxylic antagonists, e.g. aminoadipic, suberic and dipimelic acids (Biscoe et al, 1977;Hicks et al, 1978;Watkins & Evans, 1981) have been superseded by D-2-amino-5-phosphonopentanoate (AP5) and Author for correspondence at Department of Veterinary Basic Sciences. amino-7-phosphonoheptanoate (AP7) (Evans et al, 1982). Although these phosphonate compounds are more potent than aminoadipate in vitro and after direct injection into the brain, they are still relatively inactive after systemic administration.…”