Decreased Glutamate Transport by the Brain and Spinal Cord in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis

Abstract

ALS is associated with a defect in high-affinity glutamate transport that has disease, region, and chemical specificity. Defects in the clearance of extracellular glutamate because of a faulty transporter could lead to neurotoxic levels of extracellular glutamate and thus be pathogenic in ALS.