In the past few years, the Fondation IPSEN has been increasing its activity in the neurosciences, especially by supporting researchers working on Alzheimer's disease. This interest in the subject is demonstrated by a prize and a fellowship, which have been awarded each year since 1985, a monthly newsletter, and a series of Colloques Medecine et Recherche and their proceedings which are distributed world-wide. Since 1990, our effort in the field of neuroscience has been considerably enhanced. A new series of Colloques Medecine et Recherche has been devoted to this topic. Like the meetings on Alzheimer's disease, this series will deal with the most current research. Glutamate -the subject we chose for the first meeting of this series - is an excellent example since it has a major role in many physiological or pathological situations. This book contains the proceedings of the meeting which was held in Paris on September 24, 1990. As for the proceedings of the meeting on Alzheimer's disease - published in the series Research and Perspectives in Alzheimer's disease -these meetings will be reported in a new series, distributed at an international level, Research and Perspectives in Neurosciences. The second meeting on neurosciences is scheduled for September 23, 1991, and will be held in Paris. It will be dedicated to Gene transfer and therapy in the nervous system (Organizing Committee: F. Gage, La Jolla; Y. Christen, Paris).

Klappentext

This book, the first in the new series RESEARCH ANDPERSPECTIVES IN NEUROSCIENCE, contains the proceedings ofthe meeting which was held in Paris on September 24, 1990.Like the meetings on Alzheimer's disease, this series willdeal with the most current research. Glutamate - the subjectwhich was chosen for the first meeting of this series - isan excellent example since it has a major role in manyphysiological or pathological situations.

Inhalt
The NMDA Receptor: Analogies and Differences with the Non-NMDA Glutamate Receptors and with the Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptor.- The Glutamate Receptors: Genes, Structure and Expression.- Triggering of Arachidonic Acid Release from Mature Striatal Neurons by Associative Stimulation of Ionotropic (AMPA) and Quisqualate Receptors Coupled to Phospholipase C (Qp).- Persistent Modulation of Neural Excitability in the Hippocampus: The Role of EPSP-Spike (E-S) Potentiation.- Induction and Stabilization of Long-Term Potentiation.- Blockade of Specific K+ Channels Produces a Ca++ Dependent Form of Long-Term Potentiation in the Hippocampus.- Alterations in Calcium Homeostatic Capacity: A Locus for Constructive and Destructive Neuronal Remodeling.- Excitotoxicity and Neuropsychiatric Disorders.- In Vitro Neuronal Death: Contrasts Between Excitotoxicity and Chemical Hypoxia.- Excitatory Amino Acid Neurotoxicity in Rat Brain Slices.- Excitotoxicity on Cultured Cortical Neurons.- Excitatory Amino Acid Induced Cytotoxicity in Cultured Neurons: Role of Intracellular Ca+++ Homeostasis.