Malan, Sarel F.Joubert, JacquesSharma, Rajan2018-08-072024-05-152018-08-072024-05-152017https://hdl.handle.net/10566/15056Doctor Pharmaceuticae - DpharmAmong neurological disorders, many of the most devastating disorders are neurodegenerative. Modern research associates excitotoxicity to a variety of neuropathological conditions, suggesting that the neurodegenerative diseases with distinct etiologies may have excitotoxicity as a common pathway. Excitotoxicity occurs through over-stimulation of receptors for excitatory neurotransmitters like the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors. Due to the relevance of NMDA receptors and excitotoxic processes, the antagonism or modulation of NMDA receptors is used as a therapeutic tool against neurodegenerative diseases. NMDA receptor activity can be modulated by S-nitrosylation and this modulation of NMDA receptor activity can be utilised in the development of neuroprotective drugs.enNeurodegenerative diseasesExcitotoxicityApoptosisPolycyclic cage compoundsDrug designNeuroprotectionN-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptorsCalcium influxNitric oxideNO-donatingS-nitrosylationUniversity of the Western Cape