The NMDA receptor/ion channel complex: a drug target for modulating synaptic plasticity and excitotoxicity.
A recent search on PubMed for the phrase NMDA receptor results in 2,190 hits on this topic for review articles and 20,100 hits for experimental papers. This is a direct reflection of the intensiveness, significance, and complexity associated with the research on this key receptor protein over the last several decades. In this review, we briefly describe the NMDA receptor structure, discuss the role of NMDA receptors in modulating synaptic plasticity and excitotoxicity, explore age-dependent changes in NMDA receptor functioning, and survey interesting NMDA receptor blockers. Given the huge existing literature on the subject, an exhaustive review has not been endeavored. Instead, an attempt was made to point out those studies that have been instrumental in the field or that are of special interest.
Albensi
Benedict C
BC
Dept. of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, University of Manitoba, Division of Neurodegenerative Disorders, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. balbensi@sbrc.ca
D000367:Age Factors; D000818:Animals; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems; D018691:Excitatory Amino Acid Antagonists / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006801:Humans; D007473:Ion Channels / Q000378:metabolism*; D009473:Neuronal Plasticity / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D016194:Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D013569:Synapses / Q000378:metabolism; D009435:Synaptic Transmission / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology
D018691:Excitatory Amino Acid Antagonists; D007473:Ion Channels; D016194:Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate