Sohail A Qureshi, Khan M A.
Role of Glutamate-mediated excitotoxicity in neurological disorders.
Pak J Neurological Sci Jan ;1(1):34-8.

Glutamate is the major excitatory neurotransmitter in the human central nervous system (CNS) where it functions by binding specifically to its cognate receptors located in the postsynaptic neurons. It is the activation of these receptors that culminates in depolarization and excitation. As glutamate action is coupled to Ca++ influx through the NMDA receptor, it is essential that excess glutamate be cleared from the synaptic cleft immediately after it has activated its receptors in order to prevent further rounds of depolarization and more Ca++ entry which can be detrimental to a cell. A wide variety of acute as well as chronic neurological diseases have been found to be caused partly by over-stimulation of glutamate receptors. Herein, we highlight the importance of timely glutamate removal and discuss how an abnormal increase of glutamate or the persistent activation of its receptors can promote a breakdown in intracellular Ca++ homeostasis and cause injury to neurons.

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