AMPA agonist
AMPA glutamate receptor agonist
- Principal mediator of fast excitatory neurotransmission
- Glutamate
- AMPA receptors generate fast excitatory postsynaptic potentials (EPSPs), which sum with inhibitory GABA inputs to determine whether a neuron fires
- Central to long-term potentiation and memory formation
- Central to synaptic plasticity (LTP/LTD)
- AMPA receptor insertion strengthens synapses (LTP, memory formation)
- AMPA removal weakens synapses (LTD)
- More AMPA receptors → higher likelihood of neuronal firing (“AMPlified”)
- “memory insertion receptors”
- “Amplified Memory Plasticity Apparatus”
- Overactivation drives excitotoxicity and seizures
Drugs with this mechanism (3)
- AMPA — Research glutamate agonist that names the AMPA receptor.
- Glutamate — Primary excitatory CNS neurotransmitter.
- Kainate — Glutamate agonist that names the kainate receptor; an excitotoxin.
Self-check
- What happens to synaptic strength when AMPA receptors are inserted?
It increases: long-term potentiation. - What happens to synaptic strength when AMPA receptors are removed?
It decreases: long-term depression.
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