D-aminophosphonovalerate is 100-fold more powerful than D-alpha-aminoadipate in blocking N-methylaspartate neurotoxicity.

Here we report that the D-isomers of 2-amino-5-phosphonovalerate (D-APV) and alpha-amino-adipate (D-alpha AA) protect arcuate hypothalamic neurons from the potent excitotoxic activity of N-methylaspartate (NMA). Consistent with evidence that APV is much more powerful than alpha AA in antagonizing the neuroexcitatory activity of NMA, we found D-APV nearly 100 times more powerful than D-alpha AA in preventing NMA from destroying arcuate neurons.