Glutamate, neurotransmitter

Figure 8.22 The glutamate/glutamine shuttle for provision of the glutamate neurotransmitter in the brain. This illustrates another role for glial cells in the brain.

A new property of the known third-generation antibiotic ceftriaxone has been documented as a potential neu-rotherapeutic, modulating the expression of glutamate neurotransmitter transporters, GLT1, via gene activation... 

Rothman DL, Behar KL, Hyder F, Shulman RG. 2003. In vivo nmr studies of the glutamate neurotransmitter flux and neuroenergetics Implications for brain function. Annu Rev Physiol 65 401-427. 

Fig. 15.1 Branched-chain amino acid cycle and glutamate cycle in the brain (A = astrozyte, N = neuron, BBB = blood-brain barrier, GNT = glutamate neurotransmitter, BCAA = branched-chain amino acids, BCKA = branched-chain keto acids) (150)...

Amnesic shellfish poisoning The main toxin associated with ASP is the tricarboxylic amino acid domoic acid (Figure 2), responsible for a human intoxication characterized by a widespread neurological dysfunction, chronic loss of memory, and motor neuropathy. The potent neurotoxic actions of domoic acid are due to the activation of a subtype (non-NMDA) of glutamate neurotransmitter receptors, and the subsequent depolarization leading to seizures and neuronal death. 

Rabouan, S. Olivier, J.C. Guillemin, H. Barthes, D. Validation of HPLC analysis of aspartate and glutamate neurotransmitters following O-phthaldiadehyde-mercaptoethanol derivatization. J. Liq. Chromatogr. Relat. Technol. 2003,26,1797-1808. 

The elucidation of synaptic mechanisms involving endocannabinoids has revealed some surprises. Indeed, endocannabinoids are released in the extracellular space from postsynaptic neurons in response to a rise in intracellular Ca. Then, endocannabinoid neurotransmitters travel backward across synapses, and eventually stimulate CBl receptor on the presynaptic neuron. The main effect of endocannabinoids on presynaptic neurons is to decrease the release of either the inhibitory y-aminobutyric acid (GABA) or the excitatory glutamate neurotransmitters, resulting in a control of a broad range of physiological functions including food intake, fear,and anxiety. ... 

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