The following sections of this BookRags Literature Study Guide is offprint from Gale's For Students Series: Presenting Analysis, Context, and Criticism on Commonly Studied Works: Introduction, Author Biography, Plot Summary, Characters, Themes, Style, Historical Context, Critical Overview, Criticism and Critical Essays, Media Adaptations, Topics for Further Study, Compare & Contrast, What Do I Read Next?, For Further Study, and Sources.
(c)1998-2002; (c)2002 by Gale. Gale is an imprint of The Gale Group, Inc., a division of Thomson Learning, Inc. Gale and Design and Thomson Learning are trademarks used herein under license.
The following sections, if they exist, are offprint from Beacham's Encyclopedia of Popular Fiction: "Social Concerns", "Thematic Overview", "Techniques", "Literary Precedents", "Key Questions", "Related Titles", "Adaptations", "Related Web Sites". (c)1994-2005, by Walton Beacham.
The following sections, if they exist, are offprint from Beacham's Guide to Literature for Young Adults: "About the Author", "Overview", "Setting", "Literary Qualities", "Social Sensitivity", "Topics for Discussion", "Ideas for Reports and Papers". (c)1994-2005, by Walton Beacham.
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Glutamate (GLU) is a dicarboxylic aliphatic amino acid. Chemically symbolized as COOH-CH2-CH2[NH2]-COOH, it is abundant (micromolar concentrations/mg protein) in NEURONS (nerve cells) as well as in almost all other cells of the body. Its role as the major excita-tory NEUROTRANSMITTER in the brain was recognized reluctantly; its universal ability to excite all neurons was considered too nonspecific for a neuro-transmitter, so it awaited the development of drugs that antagonized GLU and the specific neuro-pathways from which it was released.
Its source for this special role in NEUROTRANSMISSION is unknown, but the synaptic vesicles of glutamatergic neurons have a selective ion-exchange mechanism to compartmentalize GLU from other metabolic pathways. Excessive GLU-receptor activation can lead to neuronal death.
COOPER, J. R., BLOOM, F. E., & ROTH, R. H. (1991). The biochemical basis of neuropharmacology, 6th ed. New York: Oxford University Press.