Carozzi Valentina, Marmiroli Paola, Cavaletti Guido
Department of Neurosciences e Biomedical Technologies, University of Milano-Bicocca, Monza, Italy.
CNS Neurol Disord Drug Targets. 2008 Oct;7(4):348-60. doi: 10.2174/187152708786441876.
The role of Glutamate (Glu), one of the major excitatory neurotransmitters in the central nervous system, has been thoroughly investigated in animal models and in humans in several physiologic events, such as brain development and synaptic plasticity, but also in acute and chronic neurologic diseases and psychiatric disorders. Recently, it has been demonstrated that Glu is important for sensory input transduction, particularly along the nociceptive pathway. Glu involvement in peripheral neuropathies has also been suggested on the basis of experimental studies in animals, thus widening the spectrum of possible sites of action of this neurotransmitter from the central to the peripheral nervous system. This rather unexpected observation may have important therapeutic implications, provided that a complete characterization of the glutamatergic system in the peripheral nervous system is achieved and its changes under the different pathological conditions are investigated. This review will focus on the most recent advances in the research into the role of Glu and the glutamatergic system in the pathology of the peripheral nervous system.
谷氨酸（Glu）是中枢神经系统中主要的兴奋性神经递质之一，其在动物模型和人类的多种生理过程中，如大脑发育和突触可塑性，以及急性和慢性神经疾病及精神障碍中，都已得到充分研究。最近，已证实Glu对感觉输入转导很重要，尤其是在伤害感受通路中。基于动物实验研究，也有人提出Glu参与了周围神经病变，从而将这种神经递质可能的作用部位范围从中枢神经系统扩展到了周围神经系统。倘若能全面了解周围神经系统中谷氨酸能系统的特征，并研究其在不同病理条件下的变化，这一相当意外的发现可能会有重要的治疗意义。本综述将聚焦于Glu和谷氨酸能系统在周围神经病理中的作用研究的最新进展。
