Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®
Articles 1 - 2 of 2
Full-Text Articles in Entire DC Network
Modeling Of Ambient Glutamate Concentration Measurement In The Mammalian Nervous System, Denis M. Shchepakin, Michael Kavanaugh, Leonid Kalachev
Modeling Of Ambient Glutamate Concentration Measurement In The Mammalian Nervous System, Denis M. Shchepakin, Michael Kavanaugh, Leonid Kalachev
Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences Faculty Publications
A neuron is an electrically excitable cell that processes and transmits information through electrical and chemical signals. Neurons connect and pass signals to other cells through the structure called synapse. We focus on synapses through which the signals are transferred by signaling molecules called neurotransmitters. One of the predominant excitatory neurotransmitters in the central nervous system of the mammals, including humans, is glutamate. It is directly or indirectly involved in most brain functions. However, the excessive stimulation of the glutamate receptors is toxic to neurons, therefore it is important to rapidly clear the glutamate from the extra-cellular space and keep …
Glutamate Transporter Control Of Ambient Glutamate Levels, Weinan Sun, Denis M. Shchepakin, Leonid Kalachev, Michael P. Kavanaugh
Glutamate Transporter Control Of Ambient Glutamate Levels, Weinan Sun, Denis M. Shchepakin, Leonid Kalachev, Michael P. Kavanaugh
Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences Faculty Publications
Accurate knowledge of the ambient extracellular glutamate concentration in brain is required for understanding its potential impacts on tonic and phasic receptor signaling. Estimates of ambient glutamate based on microdialysis measurements are generally in the range of ∼2–10 μM, approximately 100-fold higher than estimates based on electrophysiological measurements of tonic NMDA receptor activity (∼25–90 nM). The latter estimates are closer to the low nanomolar estimated thermodynamic limit of glutamate transporters. The reasons for this discrepancy are not known, but it has been suggested that microdialysis measurements could overestimate ambient extracellular glutamate because of reduced glutamate transporter activity in a …