Group I metabotropic glutamate receptors limit AMPA receptor-mediated oligodendrocyte progenitor cell death.

Oligodendrocyte progenitor cells were found to be vulnerable to kainate excitotoxic insults, an effect inhibited by either the selective alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid (AMPA) receptor antagonist (1-(4-aminophenyl)-4-methyl-7,8-methylenedioxy-5H-2,3-benzodiazepine (GYKI 52466)) or the selective group I metabotropic glutamate (mGlu) receptor agonist, (S)-3,5-dihydroxyphenylglycine. The protective effects of (S)-3,5-dihydroxyphenylglycine were reversed by the selective mGlu receptor antagonist, (S)-alpha-methyl-4-carboxyphenylglycine. These data suggest that group I mGlu receptors may limit oligodendrocyte progenitor cell degeneration during acute brain insults.