The history of the pharmacology and cloning of ionotropic glutamate receptors and the development of idiosyncratic nomenclature

摘要: In this article, the beginnings of glutamate pharmacology are traced from early doubts about 'non-specific' excitatory effects, through glutamate- and aspartate-preferring receptors, to NMDA, quisqualate/AMPA kainate subtypes, finally cloning genes for these receptor subunits. The development selective antagonists, crucial subtype classification, allowed fundamental importance receptors synaptic activity throughout CNS be realised. ability able express manipulate cloned subunits is leading huge advances in our understanding receptors. Similarly tortuous path nomenclature followed naming with reference exogenous agonists, abortive attempts at generic schemes, back NC-IUPHAR system based on natural agonist, defining agonist gene names.