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Synaptic and molecular mechanis of g1uta matergic synapses in pain and memory

Min ZHUO

Washington University Pain Center, Departments of Anesthesiology，Anatomy Neurobiology and Psychiatry，Washingtor University School of Medicine，St Louis，MO 63110，USA

Abstract

Glutamate is a fast excitatory transmitter in mammalian brains.Glutamatergic synapses are found in central regions related to pain transmission，plasticity and modulation.Glutamate NMDA receptors in forebrain structures are well known to contribute to the formation and storage of information .Here we propose the hypothesis that forebrain NMDA receptors play an important role in persistent inflammatory pain by re-enforcing glutamate sensory transmission in the brain.Mice with enhanced function of forebrain NMDA receptors de monstrate selective enhance ment of persistent pain and allodynia .Drugs targeting forebrain NMDA NR2B receptors may serve as a new class of medicine to control persistent pain in humans.

Key words: gluta mate;Synapse;pain memory;mice ;

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Citing This Article：

Min ZHUO. Synaptic and molecular mechanis of g1uta matergic synapses in pain and memory. Acta Physiol Sin 2003; 55 (1): (in Chinese with English abstract).