Glutamate is the major neurotransmitter (chemical that triggers nerve impulses) that stimulates nerves. However if a nerve gets too much stimulation it can trigger the cells to commit suicide which is known as excitotoxicity. Using mouse brain tissue the electrical activity of nerves was measured before and after cerebrospinal fluid was used to bathe the brain tissue. This was taken when MS was active and when it was non-active. It was found that when disease was active there were chemicals released that could cause nerve damage. Using this approach one of the damaging molecules was identified and away that it can stimulation of glutamate through AMPA glutamate receptors. Glutamate receptor anagonists could be a potential treatment that could be suggested from this work, but have the potential to cause side-effects or Vannilod receptor antagonists could be an alternative new avenue for treatment.
CoI: G. Martino from Milan is Part of Team G
Labels: excitoxicity, IL-1