Acta Neuropharmacologica››2015,Vol. 5››Issue (2): 17-23.

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NMDA Receptor and Neurodegenerative Diseases in the Central Nervous System

ZHANG Hai-hong

  1. Department of Pharmacy, Hebei North University, Zhangjiakou, 075000, China
  • Online:2015-04-26Published:2015-07-06
  • About author:张海红,女,讲师,硕士,从事中药药代动力学研究,email: zhanghaihongzhh@163.com
  • Supported by:

    欧宝平台登录 自然欧宝娱乐-意甲尤文图斯亚洲区域合作伙伴 计划项目(2014013);河北省中医药管理局科研计划项目(2013078)

Abstract:Excitatory amino acids (EAA) are excitatory neurotransmitters in the central nervous system that mainly includes glutamic acid and asparaginic acid. There are two categories of glutamic acid receptors: ionic receptors and metabolic receptors. N-Methyl-D-Aspartate (NMDA) receptor is a subtype of ionic receptors. NMDA receptor mediates the calcium influx, promotes the synaptic plasticity, and participates in process of learning, memory and neurogenesis. On the other hand, excessive excitatory amino acids can excite NMDA receptor, and causes calcium influx, intracellular calciumoverload, further activates a series of intracellular mechanisms inducing the apoptosis. So NMDA receptor has been considered as a double-edged sword in central nervous system. The disturbance of activation regulation of NMDA receptors could be the basis of a plenty of central nervous system diseases including neurodegenerative diseases, epilepsy, ischemic cerebral injury, etc. This article reviews the relationship between NMDA receptors and neurodegenerative diseases.

Key words:excitatory amino acid,N-Methyl-D-Aspartate receptors,neurodegenerative diseases,therapy

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