2006 issue 2

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Volume 22, issue 2

Review article

The role of co-agonists NMDA receptor and glycine transporters in normalisation of glutamatergic system function in schizophrenia

Jolanta Rabe-Jabłońska1, Dominik Strzelecki2
1. Klinika Zaburzeń Afektywnych, Psychotycznych i Psychiatrii Młodzieży Katedry Psychiatrii Uniwersytetu Medycznego w Łodzi
2. Centralny Szpital Kliniczny Uniwersytetu Medycznego w Łodzi
Farmakoterapia w Psychiatrii i Neurologii, 2006, 2, 103–110
Keywords: schizophrenia, glutamatergic system, NMDA receptor, NMDA receptor co-agonists, glycine transporters

Abstract

Glutamatergic system is a main excitatory neurotransmitters system of brain. Glutamate receptors are divided into ionotropic (NMDA, AMPA , and kainate receptors) and metabotropic. NMDA receptor participates in neuro-transsmision and is important for synapsis development. Hyperactivity of NMDA receptor causes activation of the cascade cellular processes leading to apopotosis. The last data of many trials confirmed glutamatergic dysfunction hypothesis for schizophrenia.Many genes,G72, DAAO, dysbindyne, neuroregulin, RGS4, and GRIN1, GRM3, have direct connections with glutamatergic system. For excitation NMDA receptor is needed glutamic acid, change of cellular membranes tension, and glycine – co- agonist NMDA receptor. Stable glicyne concentration in neuronal connectivity depended from cell glia, where are situated glicyne transporters. Modulation of glutamatergic function by administration of glycine binding site agonists (glicyne, D- cycloserine, sarcosine), or glycine transporters in addition to antipsychotics can give significant clinical improvement, especially in negative and cognitive symptoms.

Address for correspondence:
Jolanta Rabe-Jabłońska
Klinika Zaburzeń Afektywnych, Psychotycznych i Psychiatrii Młodzieży Uniwersytetu Medycznego w Łodzi
ul. Czechosłowacka 8/10, 92-216 Łódź
tel. 042 6757371, fax. 0426757403
e-mail: jabl@csk.am.lodz.pl