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Molecular Brain
Published in: Molecular Brain 1/2009

Open Access 01-12-2009 | Review

Plasticity of NMDA receptor NR2B subunit in memory and chronic pain

Author: Min Zhuo

Published in: Molecular Brain | Issue 1/2009

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Abstract

Glutamatergic synapses play critical roles in brain functions and diseases. Long-term potentiation (LTP) is a most effective cellular model for investigating the synaptic changes that underlie learning as well as brain disease – although different molecular mechanisms are likely involved in LTP in physiological and pathological conditions. In the case of learning, N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor is known to be important for triggering learning-related plasticity; alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic (AMPA) receptors are thought to be important for the expression of synaptic changes. In this review, I will examine recent evidence on the novel roles of NMDA receptors, in particular NR2B subunit-containing NMDA receptors in learning and chronic pain. A positive feedback control of NR2B receptor subunit is proposed to explain cortical sensitization involved in chronic pain, but not learning and memory.
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Metadata
Title
Plasticity of NMDA receptor NR2B subunit in memory and chronic pain
Author
Min Zhuo
Publication date
01-12-2009
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
Molecular Brain / Issue 1/2009
Electronic ISSN: 1756-6606
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/1756-6606-2-4

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