Excitatory amino acid receptor-mediated neuronal signal transduction: modulation by polyamines and calcium

The excitatory amino acids (EAA), L-glutamate and L-aspartate were initially advanced as excitatory neurotransmitters some 30 years ago but in the past few years investigations on EAA have proceeded rapidly from the identification of the putative neurotransmitters and characterization of their receptors to the clarification of their role in development, learning, memory, and neuropathology. The NMDA(N-methyl-D-aspartate) class of glutamate receptor has been the subject of much recent interdisciplinary study, as NMDA receptors render over stimulated neurons susceptible to injury and death. This review is focused on the involvement of polyamines in EAA receptor-mediated neuronal signal transduction mechanisms.