Glutamatergic-dopaminergic balance in the brain. Its importance in motor disorders and schizophrenia.
Dopamine appears to be of less importance in the regulation of psychomotor functions than was previously thought. A central dopaminergic-glutamatergic balance may be important for both akinetic motor disorders and psychosis. In Parkinson's disease glutamate antagonists may counteract central glutamatergic hyperactivity and may be of value as anti-parkinsonian drugs. An increase of dopaminergic activity and/or a reduction of glutamatergic activity may contribute to the development of paranoid hallucinatory psychosis in schizophrenic patients and of pharmacotoxic psychosis in Parkinson's disease. Because of possibly severe side-effects of glutamatergic antagonists and agonists in the treatment of akinesia and psychosis, the development of partial glutamate agonists/antagonists could be an alternative strategy capable of producing antipsychotic or anti-kinetic effects with only mild adverse reaction.
Department of Psychiatry, Clinical Neurochemistry, University of Würzburg, Fed. Rep. of Germay.
P
P
Riederer
K W
KW
Lange
J
J
Kornhuber
W
W
Danielczyk
D000818:Animals; D001923:Brain Chemistry / Q000502:physiology*; D004298:Dopamine / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D005971:Glutamates / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D018698:Glutamic Acid; D006801:Humans; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000378:metabolism*; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000378:metabolism*
D005971:Glutamates; D018698:Glutamic Acid; D004298:Dopamine