Glutamate is a central excitatory neurotransmitter in the nervous system and his mediating signaling is important for basic neuron-to-neuron signaling and neuronal processes such as learning, memory and pain perception. N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor are the major subtype of glutamate receptors that participate in synaptic transmission. NMDA receptor consists of three different subunits termed GluN1-3. Activation of NMDA receptor carried out via interaction with glycine and glutamate¹.
L-701,324 (7-chloro-4-hydroxy-3(3-phenoxy) phenylquinoline-2-(H)-on) is an effective NMDA antagonist that antagonizes the activity of the NMDA receptor by blocking its glycine binding site. It was found that L-701,324 when administered orally has an inhibitory effect on spreading depression (SD) initiations and propagation². Moreover L-701,324 act as anticonvulsant and neuroprotective agent³. Recently it was shown that antidepressant effect of L-701,324 in mice IS mediated by elevating the hippocampal BDNF signaling cascade⁴.