excitotoxin

excitotoxin
ex·ci·to·tox·in ik-'sīt-ə-.täk-sən n an excitotoxic agent (as kainic acid)

* * *

ex·ci·to·tox·in (ek-siґto-tok″sin) any of a group of neurotoxic substances found in certain plants or made synthetically; they are analogous to glutamic acid and mimic its excitatory effects on neurons of the central nervous system as well as producing lesions on the perikarya; several of them are used experimentally to study the excitatory mechanisms of glutamate transmitters. They include ibotenic acid, kainic acid, quisqualic acid, and N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA).

Medical dictionary. 2011.

Игры ⚽ Поможем написать курсовую

Look at other dictionaries:

  • excitotoxin — Class of substances that damage neurons through paroxysmal overactivity. The best known excitotoxins are the excitatory amino acids, that can produce lesions in the CNS similar to those of Huntington s chorea or Alzheimer s disease.… …   Dictionary of molecular biology

  • excitotoxin — noun Any neurotransmitter involved in excitotoxicity …   Wiktionary

  • excitotoxin — ex·ci·to·tox·in …   English syllables

  • excitotoxin —  ̷ ̷ ˌ ̷ ̷  ̷ ̷ ˈ ̷ ̷ sən noun Etymology: excite + o + toxin : an excitotoxic agent (as kainic acid or glutamate) …   Useful english dictionary

  • Glutamic acid (flavor) — This article is about glutamic acid as a flavor compound. For the chemical compound monosodium glutamate (MSG), see monosodium glutamate. For glutamic acid in general, see glutamic acid. Crystalline sodium glutamate Glutamic acid and its ions and …   Wikipedia

  • Excitotoxicity — is the pathological process by which nerve cells are damaged and killed by glutamate and similar substances. This occurs when receptors for the excitatory neurotransmitter glutamate such as the NMDA receptor and AMPA receptor are overactivated.… …   Wikipedia

  • Mitochondrial permeability transition — Mitochondrial permeability transition, or MPT, is an increase in the permeability of the mitochondrial membranes to molecules of less than 1500 Daltons in molecular weight. MPT results from opening of mitochondrial permeability transition pores,… …   Wikipedia

  • Aspartame controversy — The artificial sweetener aspartame has been the subject of public controversy regarding its safety and the circumstances around its approval. Many studies have recommended further investigation into the possible connection between aspartame and… …   Wikipedia

  • Tetrazolylglycine — Chembox new ImageFile=Tetrazolylglycine.png ImageSize= IUPACName=2 amino 2 (2H tetrazol 5 yl)acetic acid OtherNames= Section1= Chembox Identifiers CASNo=138199 51 6 PubChem=126383 SMILES=C1(=NNN=N1)C(C(=O)O)N Section2= Chembox Properties… …   Wikipedia

  • Marmite — For French casserole pot, see Marmite (cooking dish). A jar of British Marmite Marmite (  / …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”