The Role of Metabotropic Glutamate Receptors in Social Behavior in Rodents

The appropriate display of social behavior is critical for the well-being and survival of an individual. In many psychiatric disorders, including social anxiety disorder, autism spectrum disorders, depression and schizophrenia social behavior is severely impaired. Selective targeting of metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGluRs) has emerged as a novel treatment strategy for these disorders. In this review, we describe some of the behavioral paradigms used to assess different types of social behavior, such as social interaction, social memory, aggressive behavior and sexual behavior. We then focus on the effects of pharmacological modulation of mGluR1-8 on these types of social behavior. Indeed, accumulating evidence indicates beneficial effects of selective ligands of specific mGluRs in ameliorating innate or pharmacologically-induced deficits in social interaction and social memory as well as in reducing aggression in rodents. We emphasize the importance of future studies investigating the role of selective mGluR ligands on different types of social behavior to provide a better understanding of the neural mechanisms involved which, in turn, might promote the development of selective mGluR-targeted tools for the improved treatment of psychiatric disorders associated with social deficits.

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Common Mechanisms Underlying Opioid Tolerance and Dependence and Neuropathic Pain: Role of Metabotropic Glutamate Receptors

Pain Research and Management ◽

10.1155/2000/437256 ◽

2000 ◽

Vol 5 (1) ◽

pp. 40-48

Author(s):

Marian E Fundytus

Keyword(s):

Neuropathic Pain ◽

Glutamate Receptors ◽

Metabotropic Glutamate Receptors ◽

Short Review ◽

Opioid Tolerance ◽

Hypothetical Model ◽

Metabotropic Glutamate ◽

Different Types ◽

Opioid Sensitivity

It has been suggested that opioid tolerance and dependence share common mechanisms with neuropathic pain. This short review deals with the role of glutamate and glutamate receptors in opioid tolerance and dependence, and neuropathic pain. Particular attention is given to the role of metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGluRs). First, the different types of glutamate receptors, which include N-methyl-D-aspartate, alpha-amino-3-hydroxyl-5-methyl- isoxazole-4-propionic acid, kainate and mGluRs, are described. Following this, evidence suggesting that these receptors are involved in opioid tolerance and dependence are summarized. At the end of this section, a model that has been previously proposed to explain mechanisms by which mGluRs may be involved in opioid tolerance and dependence are described. Next is a discussion of the evidence suggesting that glutamate receptors are similarly involved in neuropathic pain, and also in opioid sensitivity associated with neuropathic pain. Again, a hypothetical model used to explain mechanisms by which mGluRs may be involved in neuropathic pain is briefly described. The relevance of the data is discussed in terms of some of the clinical implications of the material presented in the article.

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The G Protein-Coupled Glutamate Receptors as Novel Molecular Targets in Schizophrenia Treatment—A Narrative Review

Journal of Clinical Medicine ◽

10.3390/jcm10071475 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 10 (7) ◽

pp. 1475

Author(s):

Waldemar Kryszkowski ◽

Tomasz Boczek

Keyword(s):

Glutamate Receptors ◽

Metabotropic Glutamate Receptors ◽

Glutamate Release ◽

Molecular Targets ◽

Brain Regions ◽

Psychotic Symptoms ◽

Unknown Etiology ◽

Metabotropic Glutamate ◽

G Protein Coupled

Schizophrenia is a severe neuropsychiatric disease with an unknown etiology. The research into the neurobiology of this disease led to several models aimed at explaining the link between perturbations in brain function and the manifestation of psychotic symptoms. The glutamatergic hypothesis postulates that disrupted glutamate neurotransmission may mediate cognitive and psychosocial impairments by affecting the connections between the cortex and the thalamus. In this regard, the greatest attention has been given to ionotropic NMDA receptor hypofunction. However, converging data indicates metabotropic glutamate receptors as crucial for cognitive and psychomotor function. The distribution of these receptors in the brain regions related to schizophrenia and their regulatory role in glutamate release make them promising molecular targets for novel antipsychotics. This article reviews the progress in the research on the role of metabotropic glutamate receptors in schizophrenia etiopathology.

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