APV

APV (also called AP5) is a selective NMDA receptor (NMDAR) antagonist that competitively inhibits the active site of NMDAR. Its chemical name is 2-amino-5-phosphonovalerate.

APV blocks the cellular analog of classical conditioning in the sea slug Aplysia californica, and has similar effects on Aplysia long-term potentiation, since NMDA receptors are required for both. It is sometimes used in conjunction with the calcium chelator BAPTA to determine whether NMDARs are required for a particular cellular process.

APV can block the conversion of a silent synapse to an active one, since this conversion is NMDA receptor-dependent.

APV was developed by Jeff Watkins.

References

• Cellular Analog of Differential Classical Conditioning in Aplysia: Disruption by the NMDA Receptor Antagonist DL-2-Amino-5-Phosphonovalerate

APV is also a common abbreviation for avian pneumovirus.