INTRODUCTION Uptake of glutamate in the hippocampus by specialized transporters appears to be important for the prevention of glutamate-induced neurotoxicity. However, the role of these transporters in synaptic plasticity and learning is still unclear. We examined the expression pattern of glutamate transporters at different stages of spatial learning using a one-day (three blocks) version of t...

OAT (organic anion transporter) 2 [human gene symbol SLC22A7 (SLC is solute carrier)] is a member of the SLC22 family of transport proteins. In the rat, the principal site of expression of OAT2 is the sinusoidal membrane domain of hepatocytes. The particular physiological function of OAT2 in liver has been unresolved so far. In the present paper, we have used the strategy of LC (liquid chromato...

The neuronal glutamate transporter EAAC1 (EAAT3) is present in hippocampal neurons to prevent excessive glutamate accumulation. Glutamate receptor-dependent synaptic plasticity is important for learning and memory. The present study investigates behavior associated with blocking the glutamate transporter EAAC1. To manipulate EAAC1 function, rats were intrahippocampally injected with a adeno-ass...

Excitatory amino acid transporters (EAATs) terminate glutamatergic synaptic transmission and maintain extracellular glutamate concentrations in the central nervous system below excitotoxic levels. In addition to sustaining a secondary-active glutamate transport, EAAT glutamate transporters also function as anion-selective channels. Here, we report a gating process that makes anion channels asso...

Persistent, use-dependent modulation of synaptic strength has been demonstrated for fast synaptic transmission mediated by glutamate and has been hypothesized to underlie persistent behavioral changes ranging from memory to addiction. Glutamate released at synapses is sequestered by the action of excitatory amino acid transporters (EAATs) in glia and postsynaptic neurons. So, the efficacy of gl...

Glutamate homeostasis in the brain is maintained by glutamate transporter mediated accumulation. Impaired transport is associated with several neurological disorders, including stroke and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Crystal structures of the homolog transporter GltPh from Pyrococcus horikoshii revealed large structural changes. Substrate uptake at the atomic level and the mechanism of ion gr...

Background: The vesicular BAT3 transporter (SLC6A17), one of the members of the SLC6 family, is a transporter for neutral amino acids and is exclusively expressed in brain. Here we provide a comprehensive expression profile of BAT3 in mouse brain using in situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry. Results: We confirmed previous expression data from rat brain and used a novel custom made antib...

An increase in neuronal glutamate transporter expression after nerve injury was demonstrated by means of differential display PCR (DD-PCR) coupled with in situ hybridization. DD-PCR was carried out to compare differences in expression of mRNAs between axotomized and normal hypoglossal motoneurons in the rat. The expression of several gene fragments were found to be increased following nerve inj...

Solute carrier family 1, member 1 (SLC1A1; also known as EAAT3 and EAAC1) is the major epithelial transporter of glutamate and aspartate in the kidneys and intestines of rodents. Within the brain, SLC1A1 serves as the predominant neuronal glutamate transporter and buffers the synaptic release of the excitatory neurotransmitter glutamate within the interneuronal synaptic cleft. Recent studies ha...