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Kainate receptors in the hippocampus
Author(s) -
Carta Mario,
Fièvre Sabine,
Gorlewicz Adam,
Mulle Christophe
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
european journal of neuroscience
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.346
H-Index - 206
eISSN - 1460-9568
pISSN - 0953-816X
DOI - 10.1111/ejn.12590
Subject(s) - kainate receptor , neuroscience , ampa receptor , ionotropic effect , postsynaptic potential , biology , hippocampal formation , metabotropic receptor , glutamate receptor , receptor , hippocampus , metabotropic glutamate receptor , biochemistry
Kainate receptors ( KAR s) consist of a family of ionotropic glutamate receptors composed of the combinations of five subunits, GluK1–GluK5. Although KAR s display close structural homology with AMPA receptors, they serve quite distinct functions. A great deal of our knowledge of the molecular and functional properties of KAR s comes from their study in the hippocampus. This review aims at summarising the functions of KAR s in the regulation of the activity of hippocampal synaptic circuits at the adult stage and throughout development. We focus on the variety of roles played by KAR s in physiological conditions of activation, at pre‐ and postsynaptic sites, in different cell types and through either metabotropic or ionotropic actions. Finally, we present some of the few attempts to link the role of KAR s in the regulation of local hippocampal circuits to the behavioural functions of the hippocampus in health and diseases.