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Metabotropic Glutamate Receptor Function in Thalamocortical Circuitry

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mGLU Receptors

Part of the book series: The Receptors ((REC,volume 31))

Abstract

The thalamo-corticothalamic network underpins sensory, motor and cognitive processing. All three of the mGlu receptor groups are represented in these pathways. Of the Group I receptors, it seems clear that mGlu1 receptors are located postsynaptically to corticothalamic terminals on dendrites of thalamic relay cells and may function to modulate relay cell transmission under various conditions. Group III mGlu receptors (mGlu4, mGlu7, mGlu8) may also modulate this synapse via a presynaptic mechanism. GABAergic inhibitory processes can be modulated via activation of either Group II (mGlu2 and mGlu3) receptors or Group III receptors, acting either on GABAergic terminals or on thalamic cell bodies, including those in the thalamic reticular nucleus (TRN). There is also evidence that mGlu receptors can modulate astrocyte function in the thalamus. The heterogeneous expression of mGlu receptors at specific sites within the thalamus makes them potential therapeutic targets for a variety of conditions including pain, epilepsy and cognitive disorders.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, 11-43 Bath Street, London, EC1V 9EL, UK

    Thomas E. Salt MA, PhD, FBPhS

  2. St George’s, University of London, Cranmer Terrace, London, SW17 0RE, UK

    Caroline S. Copeland BSc, MRes, PhD

Authors
  1. Thomas E. Salt MA, PhD, FBPhS
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  2. Caroline S. Copeland BSc, MRes, PhD
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Thomas E. Salt MA, PhD, FBPhS .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Neuropharmacology Unit I.N.M. Neuromed, I.N.M. Neuromed, Pozzilli, Isernia, Italy

    Richard Teke Ngomba

  2. Department of Physiology and Biochemistry, University of Malta, Malta, Italy

    Giuseppe Di Giovanni

  3. Neuropharmacology Unit, I.N.M. Neuromed, Pozzilli, Isernia, Italy

    Giuseppe Battaglia

  4. Dipartimento di Fisiologia Umana, Università di Roma, Roma, Italy

    Ferdinando Nicoletti

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Salt, T.E., Copeland, C.S. (2017). Metabotropic Glutamate Receptor Function in Thalamocortical Circuitry. In: Ngomba, R., Di Giovanni, G., Battaglia, G., Nicoletti, F. (eds) mGLU Receptors. The Receptors, vol 31. Humana Press, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-56170-7_8

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