The role of glutamic acid in the pathogenesis of stroke and the development of neuroprotective drugs.

The role of glutamic acid (glutamate) in the pathogenesis of stroke is now fairly well established. As a result, many drugs which act on glutamate receptors are currently under investigation for their ability to prevent the damage induced by glutamate under ischaemic conditions. The efficacy of these compounds in protecting central neurones from the effects of stroke may be indicative of the importance of the role that glutamate plays in this process.