Cited by 3,640Neuroscience and Neuropharmacology ResearchMemory and Neural MechanismsNeurotransmitter Receptor Influence on Behavior

Selective impairment of learning and blockade of long-term potentiation by an N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor antagonist, AP5

Morris, R. G. M., Anderson, E., Lynch, G. S., Baudry, M.·1986·Nature

Abstract

Recent work has shown that the hippocampus contains a class of receptors for the excitatory amino acid glutamate that are activated by N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) and that exhibit a peculiar dependency on membrane voltage in becoming active only on depolarization. Blockade of these sites with the drug aminophosphonovaleric acid (AP5) does not detectably affect synaptic transmission in the hippocampus, but prevents the induction of hippocampal long-term potentiation (LTP) following brief high-frequency stimulation. We now report that chronic intraventricular infusion of D,L-AP5 causes a selective impairment of place learning, which is highly sensitive to hippocampal damage, without affecting visual discrimination learning, which is not. The L-isomer of AP5 did not produce behavioural effects. AP5 treatment also suppressed LTP in vivo. These results suggest that NMDA receptors are involved in spatial learning, and add support to the hypothesis that LTP is involved in some, but not all, forms of learning.

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Crossref · 10.1038/319774a0

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  • Rats that received infusion of AP5 into the hippocampus were deficient in performing a spatial memory task in the water maze.

    “Morris et al. (1986) were the first to show that rats that received infusion of AP5 into the hippocampus were deficient in performing a spatial memory task in which the animals are required to form multiple spatial relations between a hidden platform in a circular pool (known as a water maze) and visible objects in the surrounding environment and swim to the platform toescape from the water.”
  • NMDAR-dependent LTP has been most tightly associated with intact animal behavioral memory.

    “Additionally, NMDAR-dependent LTP has been most tightly associated with intact animal behavioral memory (19, 43–46).”

    From Synaptic memory and CaMKII (2023) · cites this paper as [45]

  • Although there is considerable evidence linking LTP to behavior memory, more evidence is needed to solidify this link.

    “However, although there is considerable evidence linking LTP to behavior memory (45, 441–443), more evidence is needed to solidify this link.”

    From Synaptic memory and CaMKII (2023) · cites this paper as [45]

  • Genetically-modified mouse models of NMDA hypofunction, including the Grin1 hypomorphic mouse and the Srr knockout mouse, revealed schizophrenia-relevant phenotypes and neurochemical deficits.

    “Genetically-modified mouse models of NMDA hypofunctionincluding the Grin1 hypomorphic mouse 25 and the Srr knockout mouse 26 -have also revealed schizophrenia-relevant phenotypes and neurochemical deficits.”

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Authors
Morris, R. G. M., Anderson, E., Lynch, G. S., & Baudry, M.
Affiliations
  • University of St Andrews (GB)
  • University of California, Irvine (US)
Venue
Nature
Published
1986-02
Volume
319
Issue
6056
Pages
774-776
ISSN
  • 0028-0836 (ISSN-L)
  • 1476-4687
OpenAlex
W2025801062
Cited by
3,640
References
20
Citations by year
2026: 25 · 2025: 30 · 2024: 44 · 2023: 31 · 2022: 42 · 2021: 63 · 2020: 52 · 2019: 65 · 2018: 83 · 2017: 85 · 2016: 82 · 2015: 89 · 2014: 103 · 2013: 98 · 2012: 101
FWCI
31.77
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
  • Nature (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience › Neuroscience and Neuropharmacology Research
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Memory and Neural Mechanisms
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience › Neurotransmitter Receptor Influence on Behavior
Keywords
NMDA receptor, AP5, long-term potentiation, hippocampus, place learning, spatial learning, visual discrimination learning, glutamate receptors, intraventricular infusion, synaptic plasticity
MeSH terms
Animals, Electric Stimulation, Hippocampus, Isomerism, Learning, Valine, Visual Perception, 2-Amino-5-phosphonovalerate, Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate, Receptors, Neurotransmitter, Rats

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