Receptors for excitatory amino acids: binding studies and stimulation of cyclic GMP levels

It has been demonstrated that glutamate and related amino acids bind specifically to sites on synaptic membranes, which exhibit many of the characteristics expected of postsynaptic receptors. Secondly, at higher concentrations (but which may well approximate to those found in the synaptic cleft) these excitatory amino acids stimulate cGMP in accord with their electrophysiological potencies. It would seem prudent therefore when investigating glutamatergic postsynaptic function (and possibly also for aspartate) that each of these parameters should receive due consideration.