Distribution of Extrasynaptic NMDA Receptors on Neurons

NMDA receptors are found in both synaptic and extrasynaptic locations on neurons. NMDA receptors also can be found on neurons in early stages prior to synaptogenesis, where they may be involved in migration and differentiation. Extrasynaptic NMDA receptors typically are associated with contacts with...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Ronald S. Petralia
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2012-01-01
Series:The Scientific World Journal
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1100/2012/267120
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1850172649923149824
author Ronald S. Petralia
author_facet Ronald S. Petralia
author_sort Ronald S. Petralia
collection DOAJ
description NMDA receptors are found in both synaptic and extrasynaptic locations on neurons. NMDA receptors also can be found on neurons in early stages prior to synaptogenesis, where they may be involved in migration and differentiation. Extrasynaptic NMDA receptors typically are associated with contacts with adjacent processes such as axons and glia. Extrasynaptic NMDA receptor clusters vary in size and may form associations with scaffolding proteins such as PSD-95 and SAP102. The best-characterized extrasynaptic NMDA receptors contain NR1 and NR2B subunits. Extrasynaptic NMDA receptors may be activated by glutamate spillover from synapses or from ectopic release of glutamate. Consequently, extrasynaptic NMDA receptor activation may occur under different circumstances than that for synaptic NMDA receptors, indicating different functional consequences for the neuron. In some cases, activation of extrasynaptic NMDA receptors may have a negative influence on the neuron, leading to cell damage and death, as may occur in some major diseases of the nervous system.
format Article
id doaj-art-ca204d3833cd497cab8d8a3005a1ff1b
institution OA Journals
issn 1537-744X
language English
publishDate 2012-01-01
publisher Wiley
record_format Article
series The Scientific World Journal
spelling doaj-art-ca204d3833cd497cab8d8a3005a1ff1b2025-08-20T02:20:01ZengWileyThe Scientific World Journal1537-744X2012-01-01201210.1100/2012/267120267120Distribution of Extrasynaptic NMDA Receptors on NeuronsRonald S. Petralia0Advanced Imaging Core, NIDCD/NIH, 50 South Drive (50/4142), Bethesda, MD 20892-8027, USANMDA receptors are found in both synaptic and extrasynaptic locations on neurons. NMDA receptors also can be found on neurons in early stages prior to synaptogenesis, where they may be involved in migration and differentiation. Extrasynaptic NMDA receptors typically are associated with contacts with adjacent processes such as axons and glia. Extrasynaptic NMDA receptor clusters vary in size and may form associations with scaffolding proteins such as PSD-95 and SAP102. The best-characterized extrasynaptic NMDA receptors contain NR1 and NR2B subunits. Extrasynaptic NMDA receptors may be activated by glutamate spillover from synapses or from ectopic release of glutamate. Consequently, extrasynaptic NMDA receptor activation may occur under different circumstances than that for synaptic NMDA receptors, indicating different functional consequences for the neuron. In some cases, activation of extrasynaptic NMDA receptors may have a negative influence on the neuron, leading to cell damage and death, as may occur in some major diseases of the nervous system.http://dx.doi.org/10.1100/2012/267120
spellingShingle Ronald S. Petralia
Distribution of Extrasynaptic NMDA Receptors on Neurons
The Scientific World Journal
title Distribution of Extrasynaptic NMDA Receptors on Neurons
title_full Distribution of Extrasynaptic NMDA Receptors on Neurons
title_fullStr Distribution of Extrasynaptic NMDA Receptors on Neurons
title_full_unstemmed Distribution of Extrasynaptic NMDA Receptors on Neurons
title_short Distribution of Extrasynaptic NMDA Receptors on Neurons
title_sort distribution of extrasynaptic nmda receptors on neurons
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1100/2012/267120
work_keys_str_mv AT ronaldspetralia distributionofextrasynapticnmdareceptorsonneurons