Glutamate receptors of α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid (AMPA) type (for review, see [8]) possess a dual role in neuronal communication. First, they are mediators of fast-acting excitatory neurotransmission, and second, changes in their regulation constitute a molecular mechanism of neuronal adaptation underlying long-term potentiation, a putative cellular correlate of learning and memory [9]. More specifically, AMPA receptor GluA1 subunit-deficient mouse line (GluA1−/− mice) shows adaptation-dependent defects at neuronal circuitry [10] and behavioral [11] levels, suggesting that GluA1 subunit has a major role in neuronal adaptation.
