Differences in the amount of glutamate released by neonatal and adult synaptosomes under conditions of in vitro ischaemia/reperfusion.

Glutamate is a major excitatory neurotransmitter in the mammalian central nervous system. The excessive release of glutamate and exaggerated stimulation of post-synaptic glutamate receptors are involved in the process known as excitotoxicity. Excitotoxicity has been widely implicated in neuronal damage following an ischaemic episode and the ensuing reperfusion [ I ] . The neonatal brain is known to be more resistant to ischaemia and reperfusion (I/R)* although all of the mechanisms involved in this resistance are not fully understood.