Organization, control and function of extrasynaptic NMDA receptors

T Papouin, SHR Oliet - … of the Royal Society B: Biological …, 2014 - royalsocietypublishing.org
T Papouin, SHR Oliet
Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B …, 2014royalsocietypublishing.org
N-methyl d-aspartate receptors (NMDARs) exist in different forms owing to multiple
combinations of subunits that can assemble into a functional receptor. In addition, they are
located not only at synapses but also at extrasynaptic sites. There has been intense
speculation over the past decade about whether specific NMDAR subtypes and/or locations
are responsible for inducing synaptic plasticity and excitotoxicity. Here, we review the latest
findings on the organization, subunit composition and endogenous control of NMDARs at …
N-methyl d-aspartate receptors (NMDARs) exist in different forms owing to multiple combinations of subunits that can assemble into a functional receptor. In addition, they are located not only at synapses but also at extrasynaptic sites. There has been intense speculation over the past decade about whether specific NMDAR subtypes and/or locations are responsible for inducing synaptic plasticity and excitotoxicity. Here, we review the latest findings on the organization, subunit composition and endogenous control of NMDARs at extrasynaptic sites and consider their putative functions. Because astrocytes are capable of controlling NMDARs through the release of gliotransmitters, we also discuss the role of the glial environment in regulating the activity of these receptors.
royalsocietypublishing.org