NMDA receptor, showing different subtypes
The NMDA receptor is one of the main mediators of excitatory neurotransmission. The binding of both glutamate and glycine activates this receptor. The receptor is a ligand gated ion channel, which permits the movement of calcium, sodium and potassium across the post-synaptic membrane. The NMDA receptor is composed of the main NMDAR1 sub-unit and four additional sub-units – NMDA-R2A, NMDA-R2B, NMDA-R2C and NMDA-R2D sub-units.
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References
Amino acid transmitters. In: Pharmacology, 3rd edition. Rang HP, Dale MM and Ritter JM. Edinburgh, UK: Harcourt Publishers Ltd, 2001:470–482.
Scatton B. Fundam Clin Pharmacol 1993;7(8):389–400.