D-amino acid oxidase, D-serine and the dopamine system: their interactions and implications for schizophrenia

Thesis

D-amino acid oxidase (DAO) is a flavin-dependent enzyme that is expressed in the mammalian brain. It is the metabolising enzyme of several D-amino acids, including D serine, which is an endogenous agonist at the glycine co-agonist site of the glutamatergic NMDA receptor. As such, regulation of D serine levels in the brain by DAO may indirectly modulate the activity of NMDA receptors. The expression and activity of DAO have been reported to be increased in schizophrenia. It has been identif...

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Authors: Betts, J

• Publication date: 2012
• DOI: 10.5287/ora-or1jjjpay
• Type of award: DPhil
• Level of award: Doctoral
• Awarding institution: Oxford University, UK
• Language: English
• Keywords: immunohistochemistry; glutamate; in situ hybridisation histochemistry; NMDA receptor; in vivo microdialysis; prefrontal cortex; cerebellum; D-serine; D-amino acid oxidase; ventral tegmental area; sodium benzoate; schizophrenia; dopamine
• Subjects: Medical Sciences; Molecular neuropathology; Psychiatry; Psychopharmacology; Neuroscience; Psychotic illness; Neuropathology