Activation of the glutamate metabotropic receptor protects retina against N-methyl-D-aspartate toxicity.

Intraocular pretreatment with the specific metabotropic glutamate receptor agonist (1S,3R)-1-aminocyclopentane-1,3-dicarboxylic acid (1S,3R-ACPD) in the adult rat reduced the excitotoxic effects induced in the retina by a single intraocular injection of N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA). Damage was estimated by assessing NMDA-induced loss of retinal choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) activity. The interaction between metabotropic and ionotropic glutamate receptors may, therefore, be considered an important target for in vivo pharmacological neuroprotection.