<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors belong to ionotropic glutamate receptor family, together with α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid (AMPA) receptors, kainite receptors and δ-receptors. All of these receptors are tetramers composed of four subunits. NMDA receptors have several unique features in relation to other ionotropic glutamate receptors: requirement for simultaneous action of two coagonists, glutamate and glycine; dual control of receptor activation, ligand-dependent (by glutamate and glycine) and voltage-dependent (Mg2+ block) control; and influx of considerable amounts of Ca2+ following receptor activation. Increasing number of researches deals with physiological and pathophysiological roles of NMDA receptors outside of nerve tissues, especially in the cardiovascular system. NMDA receptors are found in all cell types represented in cardiovascular system, and their overstimulation in pathological conditions, such as hyperhomocysteinemia, is related to a range of cardiovascular disorders. On the other hand we demonstrated that blockade of NMDA receptors depresses heart function. There is a need for the intensive study of NMDA receptor in cardiovascular system as potential theraputical target both in prevention and treatment of cardiovascular disorders.</abstract>

N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors belong to ionotropic glutamate receptor family, together with α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid (AMPA) receptors, kainite receptors and δ-receptors. All of these receptors are tetramers composed of four subunits. NMDA receptors have several unique features in relation to other ionotropic glutamate receptors: requirement for simultaneous action of two coagonists, glutamate and glycine; dual control of receptor activation, ligand-dependent (by glutamate and glycine) and voltage-dependent (Mg2+ block) control; and influx of considerable amounts of Ca2+ following receptor activation. Increasing number of researches deals with physiological and pathophysiological roles of NMDA receptors outside of nerve tissues, especially in the cardiovascular system. NMDA receptors are found in all cell types represented in cardiovascular system, and their overstimulation in pathological conditions, such as hyperhomocysteinemia, is related to a range of cardiovascular disorders. On the other hand we demonstrated that blockade of NMDA receptors depresses heart function. There is a need for the intensive study of NMDA receptor in cardiovascular system as potential theraputical target both in prevention and treatment of cardiovascular disorders.

Possible Role of N-Methyl-D-Aspartate Receptors in Physiology and Pathophysiology of Cardiovascular System

Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medical Sciences

Institute of Medical Physiology “Richard Burian”, Faculty of Medicine

Experimental and Applied Biomedical Research (EABR)

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors belong to ionotropic glutamate receptor family, together with α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid (AMPA)...

Possible Role of N-Methyl-D-Aspartate Receptors in Physiology and Pathophysiology of Cardiovascular System

Published Online: May 16, 2019

Page range: 3 - 13

Received: Mar 27, 2017

Accepted: Mar 28, 2017

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/sjecr-2017-0010

Keywords
NMDA receptors, glutamate receptors, cardiovascular system, homocysteine

© 2019 Ivan Srejovic et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Possible Role of N-Methyl-D-Aspartate Receptors in Physiology and Pathophysiology of Cardiovascular System

Published Online: May 16, 2019

Page range: 3 - 13

Received: Mar 27, 2017

Accepted: Mar 28, 2017

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/sjecr-2017-0010

KeywordsNMDA receptors, glutamate receptors, cardiovascular system, homocysteine

© 2019 Ivan Srejovic et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Keywords
NMDA receptors, glutamate receptors, cardiovascular system, homocysteine