The action of six antagonists of the excitatory amino acids on neurones of the rat spinal cord

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Abstract
The differential susceptibility to blockade by six antagonists of the excitatory actions produced by a number of acidic amino acids has been determined. Four of these, DL-α-aminoadipate, 2-amino-5-phosphonovalerate, 2-amino-6-phosphonocaproate and γ-D-glutamylglycine block the action of N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) most effectively and those of L-glutamate, trans-1-amino-1,3-dicarboxy-cyclopentane (trans-ADCP) and kainate the least. Cis-2,3-piperidine dicarboxylate resembles the other four, save in that kainate excitations are also powerfully blocked. L-glutamate diethylester was most effective against L-glutamate and least against NMDA: kainate and trans-ADCP excitations were also relatively unaffected. The data support the hypothesis of the existence of at least three classes of amino acid receptor (NMDA-, L-glutamate- and kainate-excited), and the possibility of a fourth category activated by trans-ADCP must be considered.