Glutamate

An amino acid neurotransmit- ter that acts to excite neurons. Glutamate stimulates N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) and alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methylisox- azole-4-propionic acid (AMPA). AMPA receptors have been implicated in activities ranging from learning and memory to devel- opment and specification of nerve contacts in developing animals. Stimulation of NMDA receptors may promote beneficial changes, whereas overstimulation may be a cause of nerve cell damage or death in neurological trauma and stroke.