[Pharmacology of excitatory amino acid receptors]

L-Glutamate is an excitatory neurotransmitter at many synapses in the animal, and causes neuronal damage in the mammalian neuron. Glutamate receptors have been classified into at least five types: NMDA-, kainate-, AMPA-, and L-AP4-type ionotropic receptors and metabotropic glutamate receptors. Recently new glutamate agonists have been introduced into the pharmacological study in neuroscience research. They are methoxyphenylkainoids, acromelic acids and 2-(carboxycyclopropyl)glycine (CCG). A methoxyphenylkainoid and acromelic acid A are one of the most potent excitants in the mammalian central neuron. These compounds should provide valuable pharmacological probes for analysis of functions of excitatory amino acids.