Excitatory Amino Acids and Second Messenger Systems

This book deals with the mechanisms through which glutamate, the principal excitatory neurotransmitter in the mammalian central nervous system, modifies neuronal membrane functions and intraneuronal functions. Discussed are the hypothesis that the glutamate receptor signal may be processed by archidonic acid, nitric oxide, Ca 2+ and protein kinases. A key routefor glutamate receptors in synaptic plasticity and neuronal degeneration is beeing increasingly recognized. This is one of the most important new areas of endeavor by neurobiologists. The book, written by some of the most wellknown scientists in this field, provides a comprehensive reviewof conceptual approaches along with experiments showing a link between excitation mediated by glutamate and second messenger systems.