The role of glutamate receptors in attention‐deficit/hyperactivity disorder: From physiology to disease

Abstract

Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is the most common psychiatric disorder in children and adolescents, which is characterized by behavioral problems such as attention deficit, hyperactivity, and impulsivity. As the receptors of the major excitatory neurotransmitter in the mammalian central nervous system (CNS), glutamate receptors (GluRs) are strongly linked to normal brain functioning and pathological processes. Extensive investigations have been made about the structure, function, and regulation of GluR family, describing evidences that support the disruption of these mechanisms in mental disorders, including ADHD. In this review, we briefly described the family and function of GluRs in the CNS, and discussed what is recently known about the role of GluRs in ADHD, that including GluR genes, animal models, and the treatment, which would help us further elucidate the etiology of ADHD. K E Y W O R D S animal model, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, glutamate receptors, physiological function

Circadian Clocks in the Regulation of Neurotransmitter Systems

“…Many studies show increased DAT binding in ADHD patients [65,66]. Furthermore, ADHD has been associated with variants in DA receptors, 5-HT transporters and receptor subunits, and glutamate receptors [67][68][69]. A high percentage of adults suffering from ADHD report sleep problems and have a later chronotype, which might arise from the disorder itself or, in turn, aggravate it [70,71].…”

Biomarker discovery in attention deficit hyperactivity disorder: RNA sequencing of whole blood in discordant twin and case-controlled cohorts

“…Physiologically, numerous avenues have been examined for a potential role in ADHD. One theory holds that ADHD involves changes in the glutaminergic neurotransmitter systems, a major excitatory pathway in the brain, however genome-wide SNP analysis has so far failed to identify glutamate receptor DNA variants as a significant association with ADHD [ 5 ]. Several lines of evidence, including the utility of drugs such as methyphenidate, amphetamines, and atomoxetine has suggested that deficits in the dopaminergic and adrenergic systems could underlie the neurochemical basis of ADHD [ 6 ].…”

Biomarker Discovery in Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder: RNA sequencing of Whole Blood in Discordant Twin and Case-Controlled Cohorts

“…One theory holds that ADHD involves changes in the glutaminergic neurotransmitter systems, a major excitatory pathway in the brain, however genome-wide SNP analysis has so far failed to identify glutamate receptor DNA variants as a significant association with ADHD [5]. Several lines of evidence, including the utility of drugs such as methyphenidate, amphetamines, and atomoxetine has suggested that deficits in the dopaminergic and adrenergic systems could underlie the neurochemical basis of ADHD [6].…”