Difference between revisions of "D-Serine"

Revision as of 03:46, 8 April 2017

NMDA and D-Serine

The NMDA (N-methyl-D-aspartate) receptor (also known as NMDAR), is a glutamate receptor and ion channel protein found in nerve cells. It is activated when glutamate and glycine (or D-serine) bind to it, and when activated it allows positively charged ions to flow through the cell membrane.^[1]

D-Serine supplementation can reduce symptoms of cognitive decline. It is also able to reduce symptoms of diseases characterized by reduced NMDA signaling, which includes cocaine dependence and schizophrenia.^[2]

Treatment with D-serine can improve performance in tasks related to recognition learning and working memory, suggesting that this agent can be useful for the treatment of disorders involving declines in these cognitive domains. ^[3]

Because a structural abnormality and NMDA receptor hypofunction has been demonstrated in the cortex and hippocampus of schizophrenic subjects, D-serine treatment may offer a new therapeutic approach to diseases related to the hypofunction of NMDA receptors such as schizophrenia.^[4]

Define: hypofunction: Reduced, low, or inadequate function^[5]

D-Serine is an obligatory endogenous coagonist of the N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor, functioning in vivo as a specific and potent full agonist at the NMDAR-associated glycine (GLY) modulatory site (GMS).^[6]

Define: endogenous: (biology) growing or originating from within an organism^[7]
Define: co-agonist: (biochemistry) A drug or other chemical that can combine with a receptor on a cell to produce a physiologic reaction typical of a naturally occurring substance. Co-agonist implies it is one of other agonists working in conjunction.^[8]
Define: agonist: (biochemistry) A molecule that can combine with a receptor on a cell to produce a physiological reaction.^[9]

Oxidative Stress

Oxidative stress theory for adult onset of psychosis:

Oxidative stresses gradually increase until GSH (Glutathione) and MT (Metallothionein) proteins are overwhelmed, resulting in sudden brain inflammation, alteration of NT (neurotransmitter) levels, and disruption of the blood brain barrier. As in Wilson’s Disease, sudden onset of a mental illness in young adulthood may result.^[10]

Define: psychosis: a severe mental disorder in which thought and emotions are so impaired that contact is lost with external reality.^[11]

All major phenotypes of schizophrenia involve severe oxidative stress, [and] oxidative overload depletes GSH and reduces glutamate activity at NMDA receptors.^[10]

Abnormal methylation and severe oxidative stress are major causes of epigenetic errors, [and] greater than 95% of schizophrenics exhibit abnormal methylation or oxidative overload.^[10]

Define: schizophrenia: a long-term mental disorder of a type involving a breakdown in the relation between thought, emotion, and behaviour, leading to faulty perception, unfitting actions and feelings, withdrawal from reality and personal relationships into fantasy and delusion, and a sense of mental fragmentation.^[12]

Other interesting links

Schizophrenia, symptoms - https://www.sane.org/mental-health-and-illness/facts-and-guides/schizophrenia
OCD, Glycine - https://www.hindawi.com/archive/2014/859735/

References

1. ↑ NMDA Receptor, Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NMDA_receptor
2. ↑ D-Serine', Examine, https://examine.com/supplements/d-serine/
3. ↑ Effects of low-dose D-serine on recognition and working memory in mice,https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21556803
4. ↑ Effect of systemic administration of D-serine on the levels of D- and L-serine in several brain areas and periphery of rat,https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15249164
5. ↑ Farlex Partner Medical Dictionary,© Farlex 2012
6. ↑ D-Serine in Neuropsychiatric Disorders: New Advances,Hindawi,https://www.hindawi.com/archive/2014/859735/
7. ↑ Define: endogenous,Google,https://www.google.com/search?q=define%3Aendogenous
8. ↑ co-agonist,wiktionary,https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/co-agonist
9. ↑ agonist,wiktionary,https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/agonist
10. ↑ ^{10.0 10.1 10.2} Biochemical imbalances in mental health populations, William J. Walsh PhD, Walsh Institute, http://www.walshinstitute.org/uploads/1/7/9/9/17997321/biochemical_imbalances_in_mental_health_populations.pdf
11. ↑ define: psychosis, Google, https://www.google.com/search?q=define%3Apsychosis
12. ↑ define: schizophrenia, Google, https://www.google.com/search?q=define%3Aschizophrenia (edited)