shown that they retain salt and fluid only during their depressed phase. The manic
(up) phase however is accompanied by increased urea in the urine, probably due
to the breakdown of cells that could not handle the reduction in ATP, the increase
in Ca 2+, and the excess glutamate stimulation.
Glutamate is the most prominent neurotransmitter in the body, being present in
over 50% of nervous tissue. The primary glutamate receptor is specifically sensitive
to N-Methyl-D-Aspartate (NMDA), which causes direct action of the receptors
ion channel, to drive the neuron to depolarize. Depolarization triggers the firing,
or action potential of the neuron, therefore NMDA is excitatory. Hyperactivation
of glutamate receptors causes neuron programmed cell death or apoptosis through
the oxidative stress of free radicals. This is because mitochondria are the source of
80% or more of the oxyradicals generated in the neuron and Ca2+ dysregulation
causes excessive activation of glutamate ionotropic receptors, disrupting the
mitochondrial electron transport system. Glutamate concentrations in the brain
and CSF are higher in some seizure patients.
For more info read Dr. Ward Deans papers on Mitochondrial Restoration and
Mitochondrial Theories of Aging at http://vrp.com/