In vivo high-affinity uptake and axonal transport of D-[2,3-3H]aspartate in excitatory neurons

D-[2,3-3H]aspartate ([3H]D-Asp) at microM concentrations in Krebs' solution was infused intracerebrally in rats, mice and hamsters. Neuropil sites in the hippocampal formation, septum and neostriatum, known to receive excitatory nerve inputs with glutamate and aspartate as putative transmitters, showed strong autoradiographic labeling after intraventricular infusions. There was evidence for retrograde axonal transport to pyramidal cell bodies in hippocampus CA3 and neocortex. Infusions into the hilus fasciae dentatae led to anterograde axonal transport of [3H]D-Asp in the mossy fibers.