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University of Bristol - MRC Centre for Synaptic Plasticity - Glutamate Receptors - Glutamate is the major excitatory neurotransmitter in central nervous system (CNS) and as such the glutamate receptors play a vital role in the mediation of excitatory synaptic transmission -

"The focus of the study is on the plentiful neurons that communicate with each other through the neurotransmitter glutamate. While glutamate is a necessary excitatory substance in the nervous system, in excess, it overstimulates and becomes toxic - excitotoxic - to neurons. Fortunately, neighboring astrocytes can mop up the excess via molecular transporters embedded in their outer membranes. The chief transporter is a protein called EAAT2. Earlier Rothstein's group showed that astroglia - and their EAAT2 protein - are critical for normal neuron activity. In test rats whose astroglia lack the EAAT2 equivalent there's not only a flood of toxic glutamate but a resulting neuron death that leads to paralysis."

Cold spring Harbor Laboratory's Dolan DNA Learning Center - Harlem DNA Lab & DNA Learning Center West - Glutamate Damage and Stroke - Glutmate Description, transcript - 3D pdf reference and information source

NINDS - what's Old is New Again - Antibiotic Protects Nerves By Removing Excess Glutamate

In the new study, researchers led by Maiken Nedergaard, M.D., D.MSc., of the University of Rochester , showed that glutamate produced by astrocytes can trigger seizures.

NINDS - Receptor Biology Section - Division of Intramural Research - Labs at NINDS - Glutamate

The Solomon H. Snyder Department of Neuroscience - the Johns Hopkins University - Asst Professor Mary Ann wilson, PhD - Mechanisms of Development, Plasticity and Injury in the Immature Brain