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[[Image:L-glutamic-acid-skeletal.png|thumb|[[Glutamic acid]]]]
'''Glutamate receptors''' are [[transmembrane receptor]]s located primarily on the membranes of [[neuron]]al cells.  These receptors bind the [[neurotransmitter]] [[glutamate]].
==Introduction==

Glutamate receptors are present in large numbers in the central nervous system, but are also found in many other areas of the body.  These receptors are responsible for the glutamate mediated post-synaptic excitation of neural cells, and are important for memory formation and learning. Furthermore, glutamate receptors are implicated in the pathologies of a great number of neurodegenerative diseases.

==Types of glutamate receptors==
Glutamate receptors can be divided into two groups according to the mechanism by which their activation gives rise to a postsynaptic current<ref>{{cite journal |author=Palmada M, Centelles J |title=Excitatory amino acid neurotransmission. Pathways for metabolism, storage and reuptake of glutamate in brain |journal=Front Biosci |volume=3 |issue= |pages=d701–18 |year= |pmid=9665875 |url=http://www.bioscience.org/1998/v3/d/palmada/3.htm}}</ref>. [[Ligand-gated ion channel|Ionotropic]] glutamate receptors (iGluRs) form the ion channel pore that activates when glutamate binds to the receptor. [[Metabotropic receptor|Metabotropic]] glutamate receptors (mGluRs) indirectly activate ion-channels on the plasma membrane through a signaling cascade that involves [[G protein]]s. 
Ionotropic receptors tend to be quicker in relaying information but metabotropic are associated with a more prolonged stimulus.  This is due to the usage of many different messengers to carry out the signal but since there is a cascade, just one activation of a G-protein can lead to multiple activations. Glutamate receptors are usually not specifically geared towards glutamate exclusively as the ligand and sometimes even requires another [[agonist]].

There are many specific subtypes of glutamate receptors, and it is customary to refer to primary subtypes by a chemical which binds to it more selectively than glutamate. The research, though, is ongoing as subtypes are identified and chemical affinities measured. There are several compounds which are routinely used in glutamate receptor research and associated with receptor subtypes:

{| class="wikitable"
| '''Type''' || '''Name''' || '''Agonist(s)''' 
 |- 
 | ionotropic || [[NMDA receptor]] || [[NMDA]] 
 |- 
 | ionotropic|| [[Kainate receptor]] || [[Kainate]]
 |- 
 | ionotropic || [[AMPA receptor]] || [[AMPA]]
 |- 
 | metabotropic || [[Metabotropic glutamate receptor|mGluR]] || [[L-AP4]], [[ACPD]], [[L-QA]]<ref>{{cite journal |author=Ohashi H, Maruyama T, Higashi-Matsumoto H, Nomoto T, Nishimura S, Takeuchi Y |title=A novel binding assay for metabotropic glutamate receptors using [3H] L-quisqualic acid and recombinant receptors |journal=Z Naturforsch [C] |volume=57 |issue=3-4 |pages=348–55 |year=2002 |pmid=12064739 |url=http://www.znaturforsch.com/sc/57c/s57c0348.pdf |format=subscription required}}</ref>
|}

Metabotropic glutamate receptors are all named mGluR# and are further broken down into three groups:

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Group #
! Receptors
! Effect
|-
| 1
| mGluR1
mGluR5
| Increase in Ca<sup>2+</sup> concentration in the cytoplasm.
Release of K<sup>+</sup> from the cell by activating K<sup>+</sup> ionic channels
|-
| 2
| mGluR2
mGluR3
| Inhibition of [[adenylyl cyclase]] causing shut down of the [[cAMP-dependent pathway]] and therefore decreasing amount of [[cyclic adenosine monophosphate|cAMP]]
|-
| 3
| mGluR4
mGluR6

mGluR7

mGluR8
| Activation of Ca<sup>2+</sup> channels, allowing more Ca<sup>2+</sup> to enter the cell<ref name="con1">{{cite journal | author = Conn PJ et al. | title = Metabotropic glutamate receptors in the basal ganglia motor circuit | journal = Nat Rev Neurosci. | volume = 6 | issue = 10 | pages = 787-98 | year = 2005 | pmid = 16276355}}</ref>
|}


==Structure/Mechanism==

Glutamate receptors exist primarily in the [[central nervous system]]. These receptors can be found on the dendrites of post-synaptic cells and bind to glutamate released into the synaptic cleft by pre-synaptic cells. The glutamate binds to the extracellular portion of the receptor and provokes a response, however the various types of receptors can produce different responses.<ref name="ding1">
{{cite journal |author=Palmada M, Centelles J |title=Excitatory amino acid neurotransmission. Pathways for metabolism, storage and reuptake of glutamate in brain |journal=Front Biosci |volume=3 |issue= |pages=d701–18 |year= |pmid=9665875 |url=http://www.bioscience.org/1998/v3/d/palmada/3.htm}}</ref>


===Ionotropic Glutamate Receptors===

All ionotropic glutamate receptors are ligand-gated nonselective [[cation]] channels which allow the flow of K<sup>+</sup>, Na<sup>+</sup> and sometimes Ca<sup>2+</sup> in response to glutamate binding. All produce excitatory post-synaptic current, but the speed and duration of the current is different for each type. NMDA receptors have an internal binding site for an Mg<sup>2+</sup> ion creating a voltage dependant block which is removed by outward flow of positive current. <ref name ="jon1"> Johnson JW and Ascher P (1990) Voltage-dependent block by intracellular Mg<sup>2+</sup> of N-methyl-D-aspartate activated channels. Biophys J  57: 1085-1090[Medline] </ref> This causes NMDA receptors to have a slower and more prolonged post-synaptic current than AMPA/kainite receptors.

===Metabatropic Glutamate Receptors===
Metabatropic glutamate receptors, which belong to the C family of [[G protein-coupled receptors]] are divided into three groups, with a total of eight sub-types. The mGluRs are composed of three distinct regions: the extracellular region, the transmembrane region, and the intracellular region. <ref name="tak1"> Takanori Muto et al. ''Structures of the extracellular regions of the group II/III metabotropic glutamate receptors'' PNAS 2007 104:3759-3764; published online before print February 26, 2007, doi:10.1073/pnas.0611577104 </ref> The extracellular region is composed of a Venus Flytrap (or VFT) module that binds [[glutamate]], <ref name="pin1"> J.P. Pin and F. Acher, The metabotropic glutamate receptors: structure, activation mechanism and pharmacology, ''Current Drug Targets: CNS and Neurological Disorders'' 1 (2002), pp. 297–317.) </ref> and a cysteine-rich domain that is thought to play a role in transmitting the conformational change induced by [[ligand]] binding from in the VFT module to the transmembrane region. <ref name="tak1" /> The transmembrane region consists of seven transmembrane domains and connects the extracellular region to the intracellular region where G protein coupling occurs. <ref name="pin1" /> Glutamate binding to the extracellular region of an mGluR causes G proteins bound to the intracellular region to be phosphorylated, affecting multiple biochemical pathways and ion channels in the cell. <ref name="plat1">{{cite journal | author = Platt SR | title = The role of glutamate in central nervous system health and disease--a review | journal = Vet. J. | volume = 173 | issue = 2 | pages = 278–86 | year = 2007 | pmid = 16376594 | doi = 10.1016/j.tvjl.2005.11.007 }}</ref> Because of this, mGluRs can both increase or decrease the exitability of the post synaptic cell, thereby causing a wide range of physiological effects.

==Function==
Glutamate is the most prominent neurotransmitter in the body,<ref name="bris">{{cite web |url=http://www.bris.ac.uk/Depts/Synaptic/info/glutamate.html |title="Glutamate Receptors - Structures and Functions" at bris.ac.uk |accessdate=2007-09-02 |format= |work=}}</ref> being present in over 50% of nervous tissue. Glutamate was initially discovered to be a [[neurotransmitter]] following insect studies in the early 1960s. The primary glutamate receptor is specifically sensitive to N-Methyl-D-Aspartate ([[NMDA]]), which causes direct action of the central pore of the receptor, an ion channel, to drive the neuron to depolarize. Depolarization will trigger the firing, or action potential of the neuron, therefore NMDA is ''excitatory''.<ref name="bris"> </ref> One of the major functions of glutamate receptors appears to be the modulation of synaptic plasticity; a property of the brain thought to be vital for memory and learning. Both metabotropic and ionotropic glutamate receptors have been shown to have an effect on [[synaptic plasticity]].  <ref name = “dom1”> Dominique Debanne, Gaël Daoudal , Valérie Sourdet and Michaël Russier. “Brain plasticity and ion channels” ''Journal of Physiology-Paris''. (2004) Volume 97, Issues 4-6, July-November 2003, Pages 403-414 </ref> An increase or decrease in the number of ionotropic glutamate receptors on a post-synaptic cell may lead to long-term potentiation or long-term depression of that cell, respectively. <ref> Pérez-Otañoa, Isabel. Ehlersb, Michael D.. “Homeostatic plasticity and NMDA receptor trafficking” ''Trends in Neurosciences'' Volume 28, Issue 5, May 2005, Pages 229-238 </ref> <ref> Asztély F, Gustafsson B. “Ionotropic glutamate receptors. Their possible role in the expression of hippocampal synaptic plasticity.” ''Mol Neurobiol.'' 1996 Feb;12 (1):1-11. Review. PMID: 8732537</ref> Additionally, metabotropic glutamate receptors may modulate synaptic plasticity by regulating post-synaptic protein synthesis through second messenger systems. <ref> Weiler, Ivan Jeanne and Greenough, William T.. “Metabotropic Glutamate Receptors Trigger Postsynaptic Protein Synthesis” Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA Vol. 90, pp. 7168-7171, August 1993 </ref>


==Genetics==

Due to the diversity of glutamate receptors, their subunits are encoded by numerous gene families. Sequence similarities between mammals show a common evolutionary origin for many mGluR and all iGluR genes.<ref name="such">Suchanek B, Seeburg PH and Sprengel R (1995) Gene structure of the murine N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor subunit NR2C. J Biol Chem  270:  41-44.</ref> As recently researched, there is complete conservation of reading frames and splice sites of GluR genes between chimpanzees and humans, suggesting no gross structural changes after humans diverged from the human-chimpanzee common ancestor. However, there is possibility that two human-specific "fixed" amino acid substitutions, in ''GRIN3A'' and ''R727H'', are specifically associated with human brain function.<ref name="goto">Goto, H., & Wantanabe, K. (2009). The identification and functional implications of human-specific "fixed" amino acid substitutions in the glutamate receptor family. BMC Evolutionary Biology, 9(224).</ref>
<br />Glutamate receptor subunits and their genes<ref name="din1">{{cite journal | author = R. Dingledine et al. | title = The Glutamate Receptor Ion Channels  | journal = Pharmacological Reviews | volume = 51 | issue = 1 | pages = 7-62 | year = 1999}}</ref>:
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Receptor Family
! Subunit
! Gene
! Chromosome (human)
! GenEMBL# (Mouse)
! GenEMBL# (Rat)
! GenEMBL# (Human)
|-
| AMPA
| GluR1
| ''GRIA1''
| 5q33
| X57497
| X17184
| I57354
|-
| AMPA
| GluR2
| ''GRIA2''
| 4q32-33
| X57498
| M85035
| A46056
|-
| AMPA
| GluR3
| ''GRIA3''
| Xq25-26
|  
| M85036
| X82068
|-
| AMPA
| GluR4
| ''GRIA4''
| 11q22-23
|   
| M36421
| U16129
|-
| Kainate
| GluR5
| ''GRIK1''
| 21q21.1-22.1
| X66118
| M83560
| U16125
|-
| Kainate
| GluR6
| ''GRIK2''
| 6q16.3-q21
| D10054
| X11715
| U16126
|-
| Kainate
| GluR7
| ''GRIK3''
| 1p34-p33
|   
| M83552
| U16127
|-
| Kainate
| KA-1
| ''GRIK4''
| 11q22.3
|    
| X59996
| S67803
|-
| Kainate
| KA-2
| ''GRIK5''
| 19q13.2
| D10011
| Z11581
| S40369
|-
| NMDA
| NR1
| ''GRIN1''
| 9q34.3
| D10028
| X63255
| X58633
|-
| NMDA
| NR2A
| ''GRIN2A''
| 16p13.2
| D10217
| D13211
| U09002
|-
| NMDA
| NR2B
| ''GRIN2B''
| 12p12
| D10651
| M91562
| U28861
|-
| NMDA
| NR2C
| ''GRIN2C''
| 17q24-q25
| D10694
| D13212
|   
|-
| NMDA
| NR2D
| ''GRIN2D''
| 19q13.1qter
| D12822
| D13214
| U77783
|-
| NMDA
| NR3A
| ''GRIN3A''
|   
|   
| L34938
|    
|}

So far, no genetic diseases in humans have been linked to mutations of any of the glutamate receptor subunit genes. However, a specific genotype of human GluR6 was discovered to have a slight influence on the age of onset of Huntington's disease.<ref name="diq">Diquet, E., Fernaqut, P., Normand, E., Centelles, L., Mulle, C., & Tison, F. (2004). Experimental basis for the putative role of GluR6/kainate glutamate receptor subunit in huntington's disease natural history.. Neurobiol Dis., 2004 Apr;15(3):667-75.</ref> Antibodies to glutamate receptor subunit genes accompany various neurological disorders (e.g. GluR3 in Rasmussen's encephalitis<ref name="carl">Carlson NG, Gahring LC, Twyman RE and Rogers SW (1997) Identification of amino acids in the glutamate receptor, GluR3, important for antibody-binding and receptor-specific activation. J Biol Chem  272:  11295-11301.</ref> and GluR2 in nonfamilial olivopontocerebellar degeneration<ref name="gahh">Gähring LC, Rogers SW and Twyman RE (1997) Autoantibodies to glutamate receptor subunit GluR2 in nonfamilial olivopontocerebellar degeneration. Neurology  48:  494-500.</ref>), but the exactly role of antibodies in disease manifestation is still not entirely known.<ref name="hex">He XP, Patel M, Whitney KD, Janumpalli S, Tenner A and McNamara JO (1998) Glutamate receptors, GluR3 antibodies and death of cortical cells. Neuron  20:  153-163.</ref>


==Pathology==
===Excitotoxicity===
Overstimulation of glutamate receptors causes neuronal degradation and death through a process called [[excitotoxicity]]. Excessive glutamate, or excitotoxins acting on the same glutamate receptors, overactivate glutamate receptors, causing high levels of calcium ions (Ca<sup>2+</sup>) to influx into the postsynaptic cell.<ref name ="dub1">Dubinsky JM. Intracellular calcium levels during the period of delayed excitotoxicity. J Neurosci. 1993; 13(2): 623–631.</ref> High Ca<sup>2+</sup> concentrations activate a cascade of cell degradation processes involving proteases, lipases, nitric oxide synthase, and a number of enzymes that damage cell structures often to the point of cell death.<ref name ="man1">Manev H, Favaron M, Guidotti A, and Costa E. Delayed increase of Ca<sup>2+</sup> influx elicited by glutamate: role in neuronal death. Molecular Pharmacoloy. 1989 Jul;36(1):106-112. PMID 2568579.</ref> Ingestion or exposure to excitotoxins that act on glutamate receptors can induce excitotoxicity and cause toxic effects on the [[central nervous system]].<ref name ="mel1">Meldrum, B. (1993) Amino acids as dietary excitotoxins: a contribution to
understanding neurodegenerative disorders. Brain Res. Rev. 18: 293–314.</ref>

===Neurodegeneration===
In the case of [[traumatic brain injury]] or [[cerebral ischemia]] (e.g. cerebral [[infarction]] or [[hemorrhage]]), acute neurodegeneration may spread to proximal neurons through two processes. [[Hypoxia]] and [[hypoglycemia]] trigger bioenergetic failure, decreasing ion concentration gradients across the plasma membrane. Depolarization increases synaptic release of glutamate<ref name="sza1">Hirsch JA, Gibson GE. Selective alteration of neurotransmitter release by low oxygen in vitro. Neurochem Res. 1984; 9(8): 1039–1049.</ref> and reversed glutamate transport (efflux) in affected neurons and [[astrocytes]]<ref name="obr1">Szatkowski M, Attwell D. Triggering and execution of neuronal death in brain ischaemia: two phases of glutamate release by different mechanisms. Trends Neurosci. 1994; 17(9): 359–365.</ref>. In addition, neuronal death releases cytoplasmic glutamate outside of the ruptured cell.<ref name="obr1">Obrenovitch TP, Richards DA. Extracellular neurotransmitter changes in cerebral ischaemia. Cerebrovasc Brain Metab Rev. 1995; 7(1): 1–54.</ref> These two forms of glutamate release cause a continual domino effect of excitotoxic cell death and further increased extracellular glutamate concentrations.

===Neurogenerative Diseases===
Glutamate receptors’ significance in exitotoxicity links it to many neurogenerative diseases. Conditions such as exposure to excitotoxins, old age, congenital predisposition, and brain trauma can trigger glutamate receptor activation and ensuing excitotoxic neurodegeneration. This damage to the central nervous system propagates symptoms associated with a number of diseases.<ref name ="beal">RT Journal A1 Beal, MF T1 Mechanisms of excitotoxicity in neurologic diseases JF The FASEB Journal JO FASEB J. YR 1992 FD December 1 VO 6 IS 15 SP 3338 OP 3344 UL http://www.fasebj.org/cgi/content/abstract/6/15/3338</ref>
<br /><br />Neurogenerative diseases thought to be mediated (at least in part) through stimulation of glutamate receptors <ref name="bud">Budd, S. L., Gillessen, T., & Lipton, S. A. (2008). Excitatory amino acid neurotoxicity. Madame Curie Bioscience Database, 2008</ref>:
* [[AIDS dementia complex]]
* [[Alzheimer’s disease]]
* [[amyotrophic lateral sclerosis]]
* combined systems disease (vitamin B<sub>12</sub> deficiency)
* [[depression]]/[[anxiety]]
* [[drug addiction]], tolerance, and dependency
* [[glaucoma]]
* [[hepatic encephalopathy]]
* [[Huntington’s disease]]
* hydroxybutyric aminoaciduria
* [[hyperhomocysteinemia]] and [[homocysteinuria]]
* [[hyperprolinemia]]
* lead encephalopathy
* Leber’s disease
* [[MELAS syndrome]]
* [[MERRF]]
* mitochondrial abnormalities (and other inherited or acquired biochemical disorders)
* [[multiple sclerosis]]
* neuropathic pain syndromes (e.g. causalgia or painful peripheral neuropathies)
* [[nonketotic hyperglycinemia]]
* [[olivopontocerebellar atrophy]] (some recessive forms)
* [[Parkinsonism]]
* [[Rett syndrome]]
* [[sulfite oxidase deficiency]]
* Wernicke’s encephalopath

==Current Research==
Glutamate receptors have been found to have an influence in [[ischemia]]/[[stroke]], [[seizures]], [[Parkinson's Disease]], [[Huntington's Disease]], and [[ache|aching]].<ref>"Glutamate Receptors (Glutamate Receptor)." ''Chi Precision Medical Data Mining''. Carehunter Inc. <http://www.curehunter.com/public/keywordSummaryD017470.do.> Web. 24 Oct. 2009. </ref> As mentioned in the pathology section, almost every disease involving glutamate receptors have very similar if not identical pathways, differing slightly only in the area in the brain where the issue occurs. The following explores some of the treatments currently being proposed by targeting the glutamate receptor pathway.

===Ischemia===

It has been observed that during ischemia, the brain has an unnaturally high concentration of extracellular glutamate. <ref name="nis1">{{cite journal | author = Nishizawa Y. | title = Glutamate release and neuronal damage in ischemia | journal = Life Sci. | volume = 69 | issue = 4 | pages = 369-81 | year = 2001 | pmid = 11459428}}</ref>  This is linked to an inadequate supply of ATP which drives the glutamate transport levels that keep the concentrations of glutamate in balance.<ref name="web2">Ole Petter Otterson. "Sources of Glutamate in Cerebral Ischemia." ''The Neurodegeneration Research Group''. <http://www.med.uio.no/imb/anatomi/gruppe_3/ischemia.htm> Web. Accessed 25 Oct. 2009. </ref> This usually leads to an excessive activation of glutamate receptors, which may lead to neuronal injury. After this over exposure, the post synaptic terminals tend to keep glutamate around for long periods of time which result in a difficulty in depolarizing.<ref name="web2"></ref> [[receptor antagonist|Antagonists]] for NDMA and AMPA receptors seem to have a large benefit, with more aid the sooner it is administered after onset of the neural ischemia. <ref name="mel1">{{cite journal | author = Meldrum BS | title = Glutamate as a neurotransmitter in the brain: review of physiology and pathology | journal = Journal of Nutrition | volume = 130 | issue = 4S Suppl | pages = 1007S-15S | year = 2000 | pmid = 10736372}}</ref>

===Seizures===

There has been some discovery about the role of glutamate receptors in [[epilepsy]]. NMDA and metabotropic types have been found to induce epileptic convulsions. Using [[animal testing on rodents|rodent models]], labs have found that the introduction of antagonists to these glutamate receptors help counteract the epileptic symptoms. <ref name="cha1">{{cite journal | author = Astrid G. Chapman | title = Glutamate and Epilepsy | journal = Journal of Nutrition | pages = 1043S-1045S | year = 2000}}</ref> Since glutamate is a [[ligand]] for ligand-gated ion channels, the binding of this neurotransmitter will open gates and increase sodium and calcium conductance.  These ions play an integral part in the causes of seizures. Group 1 metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGlu1 and mGlu5) are the primary cause of seizing so applying an antagonist to these receptors helps in preventing convulsions.<ref name="mol1">{{cite journal | author = Moldrich Rx et al. | title = Glutamate metabotropic receptors as targets for drug therapy in epilepsy | journal = Eur J Pharmacol. | volume = 476 | issue = 1-2 | pages = 3-16 | year = 2003 | pmid = 12969743}}</ref>

===Parkinson's Disease===

Late onset neurological disorders like Parkinson's disease have partial reliance on endogenous glutamate binding NMDA and AMPA glutamate receptors. <ref name="mel1"></ref>  Invitro spinal cord cultures with glutamate transport inhibitors led to degeneration of motoneurons which was counteracted by some AMPA receptor antagonists like GYKI 52466.<ref name="mel1"></ref> Research also suggests that the metabotropic glutamate receptor, mGlu4, is directly involved in movement disorders associated with the basal ganglia through selectively modulating glutamate in the [[striatum]]. <ref name="cuo1">{{cite journal | author = Cuomo D. et al. | title = Metabotropic glutamate receptor subtype 4 selectively modulates both glutamate and GABA transmission in the striatum: implications for Parkinson's disease treatment | journal = J Neurochem | volume = 109 | issue = 4 | pages = 1096-105 | year = 2009 | pmid = 19519781}}</ref>

===Huntington's Disease===

In addition to similar mechanisms causing Parkinson's Disease in respect to NMDA or AMPA receptors, Huntington's disease was also proposed to exhibit metabolic and mitochondrial deficiency which exposes striatal neurons to over activation of the NMDA receptor to dangerous levels.<ref name="mel1"></ref>  There has been a proposition of using [[folic acid]] as a possible treatment for Huntington's due to the inhibition it exhibits on [[homocysteine]] which increases vulnerability of nerve cells to glutamate.<ref name="web3">Aline McKenzie. "Test reveals effectiveness of potential Huntington's disease drugs." ''Innovations Report''. <http://www.innovations-report.com/html/reports/life_sciences/report-73183.html> Web. Accessed 25 Oct. 2009. </ref> This could decrease the effect that the glutamate has on glutamate receptors and reduce cell response to a safer level, not reaching [[excitotoxicity]].

===Aching===

[[Hyperalgesia]] is directly involved with spinal NMDA receptors. Antagonizing NMDA in a clinical setting produces side effects not fit for mass consumption although more research is being done in [[intrathecal]] administration.<ref name="mel1"></ref>  Since the spinal NMDA receptors are what links the area of pain to the brain's pain processing center, the [[thalamus]], these glutamate receptors are a prime target for treatment.  One proposed way to cope with the pain is actually subconsciously through the visualization technique.<ref name="web2">Ben Plumb. "Glutamate - A Pain Transmitter Your Subconscious May Be Able To Limit." ''Ezine Articles''. <http://ezinearticles.com/?Glutamate---A-Pain-Transmitter-Your-Subconscious-May-Be-Able-To-Limit&id=7716> 2009. Web. Accessed 25 Oct. 2009. </ref>

===Diabetes===
Diabetes is a particular case because it is influenced by glutamate receptors present outside of the central nervous system, and it also influences glutamate receptors in the central nervous system.
Diabetes mellitus, an endocrine disorder, induces cognitive impairment and defects of long-term potential in the hippocampus, interfering with synaptic plasticity. Defects of long-term potential in the hippocampus are due to abnormal glutamate receptors, specifically the malfunctioning NMDA glutamate receptors during early stages of the disease.<ref name=”trud”> Trudeau, F., Gagnon, S., & Massicotte, G. (2004). Hippocampal synaptic plasticity and glutamate receptor regulation: Influences of diabetes mellitus. Eur J Pharmacol, 2004 Apr 19;490(1-3):177-86.</ref> Research is being done to address the possibility of using hyperglycaemia and insulin to regulate these receptors and restore cognitive functions.
Pancreatic islets regulating insulin and glucagon levels also express glutamate receptors.<ref name=”wea1”> Weaver CD, Yao TL, Powers AC and Verdoorn TA (1996) Differential expression of glutamate receptor subtypes in rat pancreatic islets. J Biol Chem  271: 12977-12984.</ref> It is possible to treat diabetes via glutamate receptor antagonists, but not much research has been done. The difficulty of modifying peripheral GluR without having detrimental effects on the central nervous system, which is saturated with GluR, may be the cause of this.

==Effects Outside the Nervous System==

Glutamate receptors are thought to be responsible for the reception and transduction of [[umami]] taste stimuli. Taste receptors of the T1R family, belonging to the same class of GPCR as metabotropic Glutamate Receptors are involved. Additionally, the mGluRs as well as ionotropic glutamate receptors in neural cells have been found in taste buds and may contribute to the umami taste. <ref name="kin1"> Kinnamon SC, Vandenbeuch A. ''Receptors and transduction of umami taste stimuli.'' Ann N Y Acad Sci. 2009 Jul;1170:55-9. Review. PMID:19686108 <http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19686108?ordinalpos=2&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_DefaultReportPanel.Pubmed_RVDocSum> </ref>
Numerous ionotropic glutamate receptor subunits are expressed by heart tissue, but their specific function is still unknown. Western blots, northern blots confirmed the presence of iGluRs in cardiac tissue. Immunohistochemistry localized them to cardiac nerve terminals, ganglia, conducting fibers, and some myocardiocytes.<ref name=”gill”> Gill SS, Pulido OM, Mueller RW and McGuire PF (1998) Molecular and immunochemical characterization of the ionotropic glutamate receptors in the rat heart. Brain Res Bull  46: 429-434.</ref>
Glutamate receptors are also expressed in pancreatic islet cells. <ref> Weaver CD, Yao TL, Powers AC and Verdoorn TA (1996) Differential expression of glutamate receptor subtypes in rat pancreatic islets. J Biol Chem  271: 12977-12984.</ref> AMPA iGluRs modulate the secretion of insulin and glucagon in the pancreas, opening the possibility of treatment of diabetes via glutamate receptor antagonists.<ref name=”Ber”> Bertrand, G., Gross, R., Puech, R., Loubatieres-Mariana MM., & Bockaert, J. (1993). Glutamate stimulates glucagon secretion via an excitatory amino acid receptor of the AMPA subtype in rat pancreas.. Eur J Pharmacol, 1993, Jun 11;237(1):45-50. </ref><ref name=”wea2”> Weaver CD, Gundersen V and Verdoorn TA (1998) A high affinity glutamate/aspartate transport system in pancreatic islets of Langerhans modulates glucose-stimulated insulin secretion. J Biol Chem  273: 1647-1653.</ref>
Small unmyelinated sensory nerve terminals in the skin also express NMDA and non-NMDA receptors. Subcutaneous injections of receptor blockers in rats successfully analgesized skin from formalin-induced inflammation, raising possibilities of targetting peripheral glutamate receptors in the skin for pain treatment.<ref name=”carl”>Carlton SM, Hargett GL and Coggeshall RE (1995) Localization and activation of glutamate receptors in unmyelinated axons of rat glabrous skin. Neurosci Lett  197: 25-28.</ref>

==Conclusion==
Like many things in the biological world, not everything about glutamate receptors has been discovered.  Although the enigmatic nature of such a receptor plagues researchers, the current strides being taken in an attempt to aid many ailments caused by glutamate receptors have been productive.  If breakthroughs can be researched and a successful clinical treatment developed, many of the debilitating issues rampant in society today could be remedied or relieved of symptoms.  Due to the similar nature of each disease, a cure in Huntington's Disease may also cure or at least provide great insight into curing Parkinson's. Since glutamate receptors are such a large part of so many conditions, adequate research must be invested towards finding ways to regulate the response or binding of glutamate to glutamate receptors.

==References==
<references/>


==See also==
* [[anti-glutamate receptor antibodies]]
* [[excitotoxicity]]
* [[N-methyl-D-aspartic acid]]
* [[glutamate transporter]]
* [[metabotropic glutamate receptor]]
* [[synaptic plasticity]]

==External links==
*{{cite web | url = http://www.iuphar-db.org/GPCR/ChapterMenuForward?chapterID=1285 | title = Metabotropic Glutamate Receptors | accessdate = | author = | authorlink = | coauthors = | date = | format = | work = IUPHAR Database of Receptors and Ion Channels | publisher = International Union of Basic and Clinical Pharmacology | pages = | language = | archiveurl = | archivedate = | quote = }}
* {{MeshName|Glutamate+Receptors}}

[[Category:Transmembrane receptors]]
[[Category:Neurotransmitters]]

{{neuroscience-stub}}
{{Ligand-gated ion channels}}
{{G protein-coupled receptors}}

[[de:Glutamatrezeptor]]
[[it:Recettore del glutammato]]
[[ja:グルタミン酸受容体]]