mGlu receptors in endocrine organs

DURAND DANIELA; CARNIGLIA LILA; LASAGA MERCEDES

Wiley Interdisciplinary Reviews. Membrane transport and signaling

John Wiley & Sons

Año: 2012 vol. 1 p. 78 - 84

2190-460X

Besides its role as an excitatory neurotransmitter, glutamate has been extensively studied as a modulator of endocrine and neuroendocrine events. Several, if not all, pituitary hormones are under the control of glutamatergic input, acting at ionotropic (iGlu) and/or metabotropic glutamate (mGlu) receptors. Even though the ionotropic component of glutamate response has the largest influence on endocrine regulation, mGlu receptor activation can fine tune synaptic transmission and alter responsiveness of neurons involved in endocrine modulation. mGlu receptors have also been found on cell types peripheral to the CNS including osteoblast, hepatocytes, pancreatic cells and endothelial cells, among others.