Reducing expression of GluN1(0XX) subunit splice variants of the NMDA receptor interferes with spatial reference memory.

The GluN1 subunit of the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor shows age-related changes in its expression pattern, some of which correlate with spatial memory performance in mice. Aged C57BL/6 mice show an age-related increase in mRNA expression of GluN1 subunit splice variants that lack the N terminal splice cassette, GluN1(0XX) (GluN1-a). This increase in expression is associated with good performance in reference and working memory tasks.

Selective Vulnerabilities of N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) Receptors During Brain Aging.

N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors are present in high density within the cerebral cortex and hippocampus and play an important role in learning and memory. NMDA receptors are negatively affected by aging, but these effects are not uniform in many different ways. This review discusses the selective age-related vulnerabilities of different binding sites of the NMDA receptor complex, different subunits that comprise the complex, and the expression and functions of the receptor within different brain regions.