Excitotoxicity contributes to neuronal degeneration in many acute CNS diseases, including
ischemia, trauma, and epilepsy, and may also play a role in chronic diseases, such as
amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Key mediators of excitotoxic damage are Ca ions
(Ca2+), which under physiological conditions govern a multitude of cellular processes,
including cell growth, differentiation, and synaptic activity. Consequently, homeostatic
mechanisms exist to maintain a low intracellular Ca2+ ion concentration so that Ca2+ …