THE MECHANISM OF ACTION OF GLUTAMATE IN THE CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM AND ITS RELATION WITH NEURODEGENERATIVE DISEASES

Abstract

Glutamate is the most abundant aminoacid in the CNS acting as excitatory neurotransmitter. In addition, it operates in neural development, synaptic plasticity, learning, memory, and has a fundamental role in the mechanism of some neurodegenerative diseases. Cerebral metabolism is controlled through receptors present in pre and postsynaptic neurons and glial cells, primarily. These receptors has the function of controlling the how long that the amino acid remains in the synaptic cleft. Failures in this mechanism leads to a phenomenon called excitotoxicity and consequent neurodegeneration of specific neurons, resulting in diseases such as Alzheimer's, ALS, Parkinson's, and Huntington's disease