A novel metabolic communication between neurons and astrocytes: Non-essential amino acid L-serine released from astrocytes is essential for developing hippocampal neurons

Junya Mitoma, Shigeki Furuya, Yoshio Hirabayashi

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

83 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

A hippocampal astrocyte conditioned medium (HACM) supported the survival of hippocampal neurons under a serum-, glia-free culture setting. The neurotrophic activity in HACM was mostly recovered in low molecular weight fractions (M(r) < 3000), which contained high levels of L-serine and L-alanine. However, L-serine alone significantly improved the neuronal survival and neurite growth in a stereo-specific manner. Other non-essential amino acids had no effect. These results strongly suggest that L-serine, released by astrocytes, is essential for the survival and phenotypic growth of hippocampal neurons.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)195-199
Number of pages5
JournalNeuroscience Research
Volume30
Issue number2
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Feb 1998
Externally publishedYes

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Neuroscience(all)

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