Metabotropic glutamate 2/3 receptors as drug targets

Curr Opin Pharmacol. 2004 Feb;4(1):18-22. doi: 10.1016/j.coph.2003.10.003.

Abstract

Metabotropic glutamate receptors are a family of class III G-protein-coupled receptors comprising eight members (mGluR1-8), which are an attractive target in the central nervous system because of the widespread use of glutamate as the principal excitatory amino acid transmitter. The unique pharmacology of class III G-protein coupled receptors, their forebrain localization in key limbic-related cortical/thalamic/striatal/amygdaloid circuits, and the promise of subtle modulation of glutamatergic neurotransmission make these receptors intriguing targets for a wide variety of neuropsychiatric disorders.

MeSH terms

  • Chronic Disease
  • Humans
  • Mental Disorders / drug therapy
  • Pain / drug therapy
  • Receptors, Metabotropic Glutamate / agonists
  • Receptors, Metabotropic Glutamate / drug effects*
  • Seizures / drug therapy
  • Substance-Related Disorders / drug therapy

Substances

  • Receptors, Metabotropic Glutamate
  • metabotropic glutamate receptor 2
  • metabotropic glutamate receptor 3