Glutamate
By: Sascha Ridgewell, Hannah Straughan, Hunter
Scripture, Caitlyn Wibbels, & Angelina Sutton
Glutamate...What is it?
● The most important neurotransmitter for normal brain
function.
● Nearly all excitatory neurons in the central nervous system
are glutamatergic.
● Elevated concentration of extracellular glutamate, released
because of neural injury, are toxic to neurons.
● https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ofsxjrCEbbA
Monosodium Glutamate
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Sodium salt of glutamic acid
Found in tomatoes, potatoes,
mushrooms, and as an addition
to Chinese food.
Enhances flavor of food
Dangerous because it is an
excitotoxin, it over excites cells to
the point of damage or death
Triggers or worsens learning
disabilities, Alzheimer’s,
Parkinson’s, and ALS.
Many diseases can
potentially be cured
through funding for
the research and
development of an
artificial glutamate
neuron...
Alzheimer's
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Alzheimer's neurodegenerative disorder characterized by memory loss and
behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia.
The neurological basis for this tragic disease comes from the imbalance of
neurotransmitters such as Glutamate.
It has been studied that the change in these neurotransmitters spans from the
reuptake of neurotransmitters by vesicular glutamate transporters (VGLUTs).
Reduced VGLUTs can contribute to the alteration of glutamatergic recycling which
may eventually exacerbate depressive Alzheimer´s symptoms.
On a worldwide scale, nearly 4.4 million individuals suffer from Alzheimer´s disease
or a form of Dementia.
Even more worrisome, only 1 in 4 people with the disease have been diagnosed.
This disease is costly emotionally and financially. The U.S is said to spend over
$226 billion on care in 2015 alone.
By implementing glutamate as an artificial neurotransmitter, individual lives can be
saved and financials can be put to use finding a cure, instead of covering care cost.
Glutamate’s Role in Alzheimer’s
❖ The Glutamate neuron
is distressed and
deficient, causing
Alzheimer's disease.
This deficiency causes
damage to the
Glutamate uptake
protein as well as the
Glutamatergic neuron.
Schizophrenia
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Schizophrenia is a serious and longlasting disorder. People with
schizophrenia often have difficulty
distinguishing between what is real and
what is imaginary. It can also cause
disordered thinking, delusions, and
hallucinations.
Evidence from preclinical and clinical
studies show that brain glutamatergic
neurotransmission is altered in
schizophrenia which may affect symptom
expression.
Schizophrenia affects about 1 in every
100 people in the United States.
Materials
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=dAWkZguGD7s
Parkinson’s Disease
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Parkinson’s Disease is a chronic and progressive movement disorder
of the nervous system.
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Currently has no cure, but treatment can help.
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Common disease 200,000 to 3 million US cases per year.
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Glutamate acts as a neurotoxin in impaired cellular energy metabolism and contributes to the
development of Parkinson’s Disease.
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Abnormal glutamatergic neurotransmission patterns are important for the symptoms of
Parkinson’s Disease.
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The involvement of a glutamatergic system in the development and symptoms of Parkinson’s
Disease provides potential targets for therapeutic intervention in Parkinson’s.
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)
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Neurological disease that attacks the upper (Brain) and lower (Spinal
Cord) motor neurons causing them to degenerate
The neurons control communication from the brain to the voluntary
muscles. As the neurons die, the brain loses control over voluntary
movement.
With the degeneration of the nerve cells, muscles begin to fasciculate
(twitch), weaken, and waste away. Once the diaphragm and chest walls
fail, respiratory problems begin.
More than 12,000 people in the U.S are affected, and 90% die 3-5 years
after their diaphragm and chest walls fail.
Over exposure to Glutamate is a theory in the cause of ALS
In regulating Glutamate exposure, ALS may be prevented or even cured
with ALS victims.
The motor neurons that die
from excess glutamate are
located in the brain and in
the spinal cord. They affect
the muscles, causing them
to waste away.
Epilepsy
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Can result from an oversupply of Glutamate.
A disorder in which nerve cell activity in the brain is disturbed, causing seizures.
200,000 to 3 million cases per year, just in the United States.
Cannot be cured.
Requires a medical diagnosis:
○ During a seizure, a person experiences abnormal behavior, symptoms, and sensations, sometimes including loss
of consciousness. There are few symptoms between seizures.
People may experience:
○ Muscular: muscle twitch or muscle spasms
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Cognitive: amnesia or mental confusion
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Sensory: aura or pins and needles
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Whole body: fainting or fatigue
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Psychological: depression or fear
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Also common: seizures, anxiety, headache, sleepiness, staring spells, or temporary paralysis after a seizure
THANK YOU!