Antagonists and agonists at the glycine site of the NMDA receptor for therapeutic interventions

Eur J Med Chem. 2003 Jul-Aug;38(7-8):661-70. doi: 10.1016/s0223-5234(03)00113-2.

Abstract

For decades neuroreceptor research has focused on the development of NMDA glycine-site antagonists, after Johnson and Ascher found out in 1987 about the co-agonistic character of this achiral amino acid at the NMDA receptor. Contrary to the inhibitory glycine receptor (glycine(A)) the glycine binding site on the NMDA receptor (glycine(B)) is strychnine-insensitive. A great diversity of diseases showing a disturbed glutamate neurotransmission have been linked to the NMDA receptor. Glycine site antagonists have been investigated for acute diseases like stroke and head trauma as well as chronic ones like dementia and chronic pain.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Anticonvulsants / therapeutic use
  • Binding Sites
  • Dementia / drug therapy
  • Epilepsy / drug therapy
  • Excitatory Amino Acid Antagonists / pharmacology
  • Excitatory Amino Acid Antagonists / therapeutic use
  • Glycine / agonists
  • Glycine / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Glycine / chemistry
  • Humans
  • Memantine / therapeutic use
  • Neuroprotective Agents / pharmacology*
  • Neuroprotective Agents / therapeutic use
  • Pain / drug therapy
  • Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate / agonists*
  • Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate / chemistry
  • Schizophrenia / drug therapy
  • Stroke / drug therapy

Substances

  • Anticonvulsants
  • Excitatory Amino Acid Antagonists
  • Neuroprotective Agents
  • Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate
  • Glycine
  • Memantine