Acta Neuropharmacologica ›› 2011, Vol. 1 ›› Issue (5): 40-48.

• Columns of scholar forum and review • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Distinct Roles and Modulations of Synaptic and Extrasynaptic NMDA Receptors

CHU Shi-feng, CHEN Nai-hong   

  1. State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Substance and Function of Natural Medicines, Institute of Materia Medica ,Chinese Academy of Medical Science and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100050,China
  • Online:2011-10-26 Published:2013-03-24
  • Contact: 陈乃宏,男,教授,博士生导师;研究方向:神经药理及神经分子生物学;Tel:+86-010-63165177, Fax:+86-010-63165211,E-mail: chennh@imm.ac.cn
  • About author:楚世峰,男,博士研究生; 研究方向:神经药理及神经分子生物学;E-mail: chushifeng@imm.ac.cn
  • Supported by:

    国家自然科学基金(No.30801527、30973887、U832008、90713045、81072541),科技部项目 (No.2010DFB32900),创新药物重大专项(No.2012ZX09301002-004)

Abstract: N-Methyl-D-Aspartate receptor(NMDA receptor) has been considered as a double-edged sword in central nervous system. On the one hand, it mediates the calcium influx, promotes the synaptic plasticity and improves the neural excitatory. On the other hand, excessive opening of NMDA receptor causes calcium overload in neurons, disturbing the homeostasis and inducing the apoptosis. However, growing number of studies demonstrated that the distinct roles of NMDA receptor do not totally depend on its opening degree, but also on its locations where different signaling pathways are triggered. Synaptic NMDA receptors activate the nuclear calcium signaling pathways to protect the neurons; whereas activation of extrasyanptic NMDA receptor starts the apoptosis or death pathway. The imbalance between the two pathways accounts partially for pathogenesis in neural diseases, such as Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease and Huntington’s disease. In conclusion, the currently available evidence has provided a new clue for the treatment of neurodegenerative disease.

Key words: NMDA receptor, synaptic, extrasynaptic, apoptosis, signaling pathway

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