Excitatory amino acids multiple receptors

Current theories suggest that hypersecretion of cortisol during stress may damage the hippocampus. Studies have demonstrated reduced hippocampal volume in trauma survivors with PTSD, compared to nontrauma tized individuals (Sapolsky, 2000 Bremner, 2001). However, hormonally regulated plasticity in the hippocampus involves multiple influences, and glucocorticoid hormones work in concert with excitatory amino acids and N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors, as well as other neurotransmitters and the GABA-benzodiazepine system (see McEwen, 2000a,b, for review). 

Changes in excitatory amino acid receptors have been documented by multiple laboratories (Mody and Heinemann, 1987 Kohr and Mody, 1994 Kraus et al., 1994). Increased mRNA levels of NMDA receptor subunits have been measured in dentate-granule cells of patients with hippocampal sclerosis and mesial temporal lobe epilepsy (Mathem et al., 1999). 

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