Affiliations: Department of Neurology, University of Ulm, D-89075
Ulm, Steinhövelstraße 9, Germany
Note: [] Corresponding author: Albert C. Ludolph, Department of
Neurology, University of Ulm, D-89075 Ulm, Steinhövelstraße 9,
Germany. Tel.: +49 731 5027970; Fax: + 49 731 5027979; E-mail:
albert.ludolph@medizin.uni-ulm.de
Abstract: Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis is a progressive fatal disorder
devastating the spinal cord and brain in humans. Excitotoxicity has been
suggested to be involved in the pathogenesis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.
This hypothesis has driven a wealth of basic research and stimulated
development of neuroprotective therapies for chronic neurodegenerative
disorders. As a result of these efforts, riluzole, an antiglutamatergic drug,
has been established in the therapy of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. A
transgenic mouse showing features of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis has been
subsequently engineered enabling studies of the disease in vivo. However,
despite considerable progress, the etiology of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
remains obscure and the disturbances in excitatory neurotransmission should by
no means be regarded as exclusive to the pathogenesis of the disease.
