The glutamate receptor delta 2 in relation to cerebellar development and plasticity

Understanding what are the mechanisms that strengthen, stabilize and restrict synaptic innervation is a relevant topic in glutamate receptor delta 2 (GluR delta 2)-related research. It also involves targeting and selection of afferent input during formation of the neuronal circuitry in the cerebellar cortex and its functioning. This review will focus oil the role of GluR delta 2, one of the main players in this field. Special emphasis will be placed on the processes that regulate the rapid translocation from climbing fibres to parallel fibres of GluR delta 2 and the role of GluR delta 2 in the reduction of supernumerary climbing fibre contacts on a single Purkinje cell. Furthermore, GluR delta 2 knockout mice show ataxia and impaired motor coordination, suggesting that the presence of GluR delta 2 plays an important role in controlling cerebellar functioning. (c) 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.