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Excitotoxicity, energy metabolism and neurodegeneration

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Journal of Inherited Metabolic Disease

Summary

There is increasing evidence that the neurotoxic effects of excitatory amino acids and their analogues are part of the pathogenesis of neuronal degeneration in acute and chronic neurological disease. Recent studies indicate that activation of excitatory amino acid receptors is also induced in the mechanism of neuronal damage induced by impairment of cellular energy metabolism. This article briefly summarizes the evidence for the presence of such a mechanism and discusses metabolic diseases in which excitatory amino acids alone or in combination with energy deficiency could play a pathogenetic role. In these and other metabolic diseases, antagonists to excitatory amino acid receptors may offer a therapeutic opportunity; however, there are potential limits that may prevent chronic use.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Epileptology, University of Bonn, Sigmund Freud-Strasse 25, 53 Bonn, Germany

    A. C. Ludolph

  2. Wadsworth Center, Albany, New York, USA

    M. Riepe

  3. Department of Pediatrics, University of Münster, Germany

    K. Ullrich

Authors
  1. A. C. Ludolph
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  2. M. Riepe
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  3. K. Ullrich
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Ludolph, A.C., Riepe, M. & Ullrich, K. Excitotoxicity, energy metabolism and neurodegeneration. J Inherit Metab Dis 16, 716–723 (1993). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00711903

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