Excitotoxicity is a form of cell death caused by excessive stimulation of the cells by excitatory neurotransmitters such as glutamate. This type of neurotoxicity can occur in both the central and peripheral nervous systems and is associated with a variety of neurological disorders, including stroke, Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, Huntington’s disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, and epilepsy (Lipton, 1999).
The mechanism of excitotoxicity involves the overstimulation of postsynaptic receptors by excitatory neurotransmitters such as glutamate and aspartate. When these receptors are overstimulated, they become overly sensitive and can become activated by even low levels of excitatory neurotransmitters. This leads to an excessive influx of calcium into the cells, which can lead to increased levels of free radicals, a decrease in ATP production, and ultimately cell death (Chan, 2001).
The development of excitotoxic cell death can be prevented by blocking the activity of glutamate receptors or by increasing the activity of glutamate transporters. In addition, other drugs and treatments, such as antioxidants, have been found to be effective in reducing the risk of excitotoxic injury (Faden, 2000).
Excitotoxicity has also been linked to neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. In these diseases, the overstimulation of postsynaptic receptors by excitatory neurotransmitters is thought to be responsible for the gradual loss of neurons (Kishimoto, 2002).
In conclusion, excitotoxicity is a form of cell death caused by excessive stimulation of the cells by excitatory neurotransmitters such as glutamate. This type of neurotoxicity can lead to a variety of neurological disorders and is associated with many neurodegenerative diseases. The development of excitotoxic cell death can be prevented by blocking the activity of glutamate receptors or by increasing the activity of glutamate transporters.
References
Chan, P. H. (2001). Molecular mechanisms of excitotoxic neuronal death. Nature Reviews Neuroscience, 2(11), 699-709.
Faden, A. I. (2000). Neuroprotectants and excitotoxicity. Journal of Neurotrauma, 17(10), 875-885.
Kishimoto, Y. (2002). Excitotoxicity in neurodegenerative diseases. Current Drug Targets – CNS and Neurological Disorders, 1(3), 161-167.
Lipton, S. A. (1999). Excitotoxicity as a mechanism of disease. Trends in Neurosciences, 22(7), 208-214.