Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Brianna E. George, Monica H. Dawes, Emily G. Peck, Sara R. Jones
Summary: Chronic heroin exposure leads to low dopamine levels in the nucleus accumbens and alterations in dopamine release dynamics, which may contribute to increased heroin seeking.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Neurosciences
Zachary A. Rodd, Eric A. Engleman, William A. Truitt, Andrew R. Burke, Andrei Molosh, Richard L. Bell, Sheketha R. Hauser
Summary: The chemogenetic procedure DREADD selectively affects protein receptors. Administering clozapine N-oxide (CNO) significantly increases levels of glutamate and dopamine in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC). However, caution should be taken as CNO is not an inert compound, and the effects of clozapine and N-desmethylclozapine (N-Des) in CNO-DREADD studies need to be controlled.
Article
Behavioral Sciences
Xiaoying Tan, Cynthia M. Ingraham, William J. McBride, Zheng-Ming Ding
Summary: The study demonstrates that cotinine can be self-administered by activating the mesolimbic dopamine system, which may represent one cellular mechanism underlying cotinine self-administration. The shared activation mechanism between cotinine and nicotine suggests that cotinine may play a role in nicotine reinforcement.
BEHAVIOURAL BRAIN RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Neurosciences
Xiaoying Tan, Elizabeth M. Neslund, Zheng-Ming Ding
Summary: Previous studies have shown that cotinine, a metabolite of nicotine, can be self-administered and induce drug-seeking behaviors in rats. The mesolimbic dopamine system plays an important role in cotinine's effects. Active self-administration of cotinine increased extracellular dopamine levels in the nucleus accumbens (NAC), but to a lesser extent than nicotine. Chronic self-administration of cotinine led to reduced protein expression of D2 receptors in the NAC core, but did not affect D1 receptors or tyrosine hydroxylase. Blocking D2-like receptors attenuated both cotinine self-administration and cue-induced relapse. These findings support the significance of the mesolimbic dopamine system in mediating the reinforcing effects of cotinine.
Review
Clinical Neurology
Osama Khojah, Seraj Makkawi, Saeed Alghamdi
Summary: This study aimed to systematically review reported cases of anti-mGluR1 encephalitis and summarize their clinical presentation, management, outcomes, and case reports. The study found that anti-mGluR1 encephalitis manifests as symptoms of cerebellar pathology, and early diagnosis with prompt initiation of immunotherapy is crucial for patient recovery.
FRONTIERS IN NEUROLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Christina A. Gates, Donald S. Backos, Philip Reigan, Nicholas R. Natale
Summary: Isoxazolo[3,4-d] pyridazinones ([3,4-d]s) were found to selectively positively modulate metabotropic glutamate receptor (mGluR) Subtypes 2 and 4, with no cross-reactivity at mGluR1a, mGluR5, or mGluR8. Additional analogs were prepared to increase binding affinity, resulting in successful selective lateral metalation and electrophilic quenching at the C3 position.
Review
Cell Biology
Falko Lange, Julia Hoernschemeyer, Timo Kirschstein
Summary: The progression of glioblastomas and tumor-associated epilepsy is closely linked through various pathophysiological mechanisms involving the neurotransmitter glutamate. Current research focuses on the role of glutamate receptors in these diseases and discusses future interventions to interfere with the glutamatergic network.
Article
Cell Biology
M. Crespo, D. A. Leon-Navarro, M. Martin
Summary: Febrile seizures in children can lead to epilepsy in adults, with glutamate playing a key role in the development of neurological disorders. In the short term after seizures, GLT-1 levels increase and glutamate concentration decreases, while mGlu(5)R levels remain unchanged. However, in the long term, an increase in mGlu(5)R levels and decreases in GLT-1 and glutamate levels are observed, associated with the development of an anxious phenotype and potentially increased vulnerability to epileptic events in adults.
CELLULAR AND MOLECULAR NEUROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Deepa Gautam, Ulhas P. Naik, Meghna U. Naik, Santosh K. Yadav, Rameshwar Nath Chaurasia, Debabrata Dash
Summary: This paper explores the role of platelets in neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease, as well as the critical role of glutamate receptors in the pathophysiology of these diseases. By reviewing data from clinical trials, animal models, and cellular studies, it reveals the involvement of glutamate receptor dysfunction in neurodegenerative processes and provides an overview of current treatments, including glutamate receptor antagonists, for AD and PD.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Elissa K. Fultz, Sema G. Quadir, Douglas Martin, Daniel M. Flaherty, Paul F. Worley, Tod E. Kippin, Karen K. Szumlinski
Summary: Methamphetamine (MA) is a highly addictive drug with increasing global use. There is no approved pharmacotherapy for MA use disorder, and little is known about the neurobiological determinants of vulnerability to the disease. Studies suggest that ERK activation in the medial prefrontal cortex may play a role in the affective valence of MA and its reinforcing properties.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2021)
Review
Neurosciences
David Ramos-Vicente, Seth G. N. Grant, Alex Bayes
Summary: Glutamate is the major excitatory neurotransmitter in both vertebrate and invertebrate nervous systems. The evolution of glutamate receptors is more complex than anticipated, with recent research proposing a new classification system for ionotropic glutamate receptors. Additionally, the evolution of animal metabotropic glutamate receptors has resulted in the formation of four classes instead of three previously recognized.
Article
Neurosciences
Wilber Romero-Fernandez, Jaume J. Taura, Rene A. J. Crans, Marc Lopez-Cano, Ramon Fores-Pons, Manuel Narvaez, Jens Carlsson, Francisco Ciruela, Kjell Fuxe, Dasiel O. Borroto-Escuela
Summary: The study demonstrates the role of A(2A)R in modulating the D2R-mGluR(5) heteromeric component, showing that A(2A)R and mGluR(5) can interact to influence D2R signaling, indicating integrative activity within higher-order heteroreceptor complexes.
MOLECULAR NEUROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Review
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Laura Musazzi
Summary: This review focuses on the antidepressant effect of pharmacological modulation of metabotropic glutamate (mGlu) receptors, highlighting mGlu2/3 antagonists as the most promising compounds for the development of new antidepressants. Despite accumulating evidence supporting the role of glutamate modulation in rapid antidepressant effects, more mechanistic studies are needed to fully understand the potential of drugs targeting the glutamate synapse in depression.
EXPERT OPINION ON DRUG DISCOVERY
(2021)
Article
Neurosciences
Adam P. Mecca, Kelly Rogers, Zachary Jacobs, Julia W. McDonald, Hannah R. Michalak, Nicole DellaGioia, Wenzhen Zhao, Ansel T. Hillmer, Nabeel Nabulsi, Keunpoong Lim, Jim Ropchan, Yiyun Huang, David Matuskey, Irina Esterlis, Richard E. Carson, Christopher H. van Dyck
Summary: Aging is associated with decreased availability of mGluR5 in the brain, primarily due to tissue loss. This reduction in mGluR5 binding may provide insight into age-related molecular changes and their relationship with brain tissue loss.
Review
Cell Biology
Mariacristina Mazzitelli, Peyton Presto, Nico Antenucci, Shakira Meltan, Volker Neugebauer
Summary: Metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGluR) are important in the nervous system and have implications in various pathological conditions including pain. Pharmacological manipulation of mGluR subtypes may be a promising approach for the treatment of pain and other disorders.