Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 13, 2026

Glaucoma-inducing Procedure in an In Vivo Rat Model and Whole-mount Retina Preparation
Published on: March 12, 2016
Possible role of excitotoxicity in the pathogenesis of glaucoma
1Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Royal Adelaide Hospital, North Tce., Adelaide, SA 5000, Australia. robert.casson@adelaide.edu.au
Abstract:
Excitotoxicity describes the process of neuronal injury by excess stimulation of amino acid receptors. This form of insult was first described in the retina, and subsequently has been shown to be an important component of the pathogenesis of ischaemic and traumatic injury in the central nervous system. Furthermore, there is increasing evidence that excitotoxicity is involved in several chronic neurological conditions, and anti-excitotoxic treatment has already been approved for some of these conditions. A large-scale trial is currently underway that will determine the efficacy of an anti-excitotoxic drug (memantine) in the management of glaucoma. This review provides an overview of neurotransmission and the mechanisms of excitotoxicity. The evidence for excitotoxicity as a component of certain neurological diseases, including glaucoma, is discussed.
Related Concept Videos
Glaucoma: Overview
Ligand-Gated Ion Channel Receptor: Gating Mechanism
Encephalitis ll: Pathophysiology
Cytotoxic Edema: Pathophysiology
Excitatory and Inhibitory Effects of Neurotransmitters
The Role of Ion Channels in Neuronal Computation
Sometimes a single EPSP is strong enough to induce an action potential in the postsynaptic neuron. However, multiple presynaptic inputs must often create EPSPs around the same time for the postsynaptic neuron to be sufficiently depolarized to fire an action potential.

