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Chapter 6 Glutamate receptors and the induction of excitotoxic neuronal death

1994; Elsevier BV; Linguagem: Inglês

10.1016/s0079-6123(08)60767-0

1875-7855

Dennis W. Choi,

Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptors Study

The participation of glutamate receptors in excitotoxic induction is discussed in this chapter with an emphasis on some recent developments with regard to α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid (AMPA) and metabotropic receptors. Ca2+ influx triggered by glutamate receptor activation is a critical mediator of excitotoxic injury. The presence of AMPA/kainate receptors gating Ca2+-permeable channels should confer enhanced vulnerability to death induced by AMPA or kainate. Specifically, neurons bearing substantial numbers of such atypical AMPA/ kainate receptors should be destroyed by exposures to AMPA or kainate too brief to destroy neurons lacking these receptors. To test this idea, the chapter utilizes kainate-activated Co2+ uptake as a histochemical marker for cells bearing Ca2+-permeable AMPA receptors. Another feature of AMPA/kainate receptor behavior that may influence participation in excitotoxicity is desensitization.