Glutamate receptor noncompetitive NMDA

Glutamate systems have long been implicated in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia. Strong if circumstantial evidence comes from the psychosis associated with phencyclidine (PGP) administration PGP blocks of the ion channel the glutamate/NMDA receptor. Psychosis due to PGP and other noncompetitive NMDA antagonists includes the development of negative as well as positive symptoms and therefore is considered a better model of schizophre-... 

Excitotoxic activation of glutamate transmission via NMDA receptors has been postulated to contribute to the pathophysiology of Alzheimer s disease. Memantine binds to NMDA receptor channels in a use-dependent manner and produces a noncompetitive blockade. This drug appears to be better tolerated and less toxic than the cholinesterase inhibitors. Memantine is available as Namenda in 5 and 10 mg oral tablets. 

As will be discussed in detail later (see Chapter 15) PCP is a noncompetitive inhibitor of the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) subtype of the glutamate receptor. This has led to the suggestion that schizophrenia may be associated with a decreased glutamatergic activity particularly in cortical regions of the brain. 

The glutamate hypofunction hypothesis relies on the fact that phencyclidine and ketamine, both potent noncompetitive N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA)-glutamate receptor antagonists, induce schizophrenia-like symptoms in healthy individuals and worsen some symptoms in schizophrenia patients... 

Phencyclidine is extensively used in research because of its properties as a noncompetitive antagonist of NMDA glutamate receptors. In vivo and in vitro data have demonstrated that phencyclidine can produce apoptosis in the frontal cortex of rats. 

One of the most popular hypotheses to explain schizophrenia, the glutamate hypothesis of schizophrenia, is based on the observation of psychotomimetic effects of noncompetitive N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonists, such as phencyclidine (PCP), dizocilpine (MK-801), and ketamine. Like amphetamine, NMDA antagonists produce a psychosis-like state when administered to healthy individuals. Further... 

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