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Current knowledge of d-aspartate in glandular tissues

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Abstract

Free d-aspartate (d-Asp) occurs in substantial amounts in glandular tissues. This paper reviews the existing work on d-Asp in vertebrate exocrine and endocrine glands, with emphasis on functional roles. Endogenous d-Asp was detected in salivary glands. High d-Asp levels in the parotid gland during development suggest an involvement of the amino acid in the regulation of early developmental phases and/or differentiation processes. d-Asp has a prominent role in the Harderian gland, where it elicits exocrine secretion through activation of the ERK1/2 pathway. Interestingly, the increase in NOS activity associated with d-Asp administration in the Harderian gland suggests a potential capability of d-Asp to induce vasodilatation. In mammals, an increase in local concentrations of d-Asp facilitates the secretion of anterior pituitary hormones, i.e., PRL, LH and GH, whereas it inhibits the secretion of POMC/α-MSH from the intermediate pituitary and of oxytocin from the posterior pituitary. d-Asp also acts as a negative regulator for melatonin synthesis in the pineal gland. Further, d-Asp can stereo-specifically modulate the production of sex steroids, thus taking part in the endocrine control of reproductive activity. Although d-Asp receptors remain to be characterized, gene expression of NR1 and NR2 subunits of NMDAr responds to d-Asp in the testis.

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  1. Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Ambientali, Biologiche e Farmaceutiche, Seconda Università di Napoli, via Vivaldi 43, 80100, Caserta, Italy

    Maria Maddalena Di Fiore, Alessandra Santillo & Gabriella Chieffi Baccari

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  1. Maria Maddalena Di Fiore
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  2. Alessandra Santillo
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  3. Gabriella Chieffi Baccari
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Correspondence to Maria Maddalena Di Fiore.

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Di Fiore, M.M., Santillo, A. & Chieffi Baccari, G. Current knowledge of d-aspartate in glandular tissues. Amino Acids 46, 1805–1818 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00726-014-1759-2

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