Exploring the role of NMDA receptor in memory

Abstract

N-Methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA), a receptor belonging to the family of ionotropic glutamate receptors (iGluRs), plays various physiological and pathological roles in the central nervous system (CNS). Various other receptors located in the midbrain, such as NMDAR2B (NR2B), contribute to fear memory rather than spatial memory. Furthermore, NMDA-receptor channels produce calcium entry, essential for LTP induction; they also produce voltage-dependent excitatory postsynaptic potentials (EPSPs). Protein kinase C (PKC) activation is involved in the long-term physiological processes of LTP. This review aimed to determine the pharmacological properties of NMDA in front of native neurons.

Keywords

• receptor
• ion channels
• ligand
• memory specific
• neurons