Which receptor subtype is primarily associated with the neurotransmitter glutamate?

The AMPA receptor subtype is primarily associated with the neurotransmitter glutamate. Glutamate is the main excitatory neurotransmitter in the central nervous system, and its action is mediated by several receptor types. The AMPA receptors are a class of ionotropic glutamate receptors that mediate fast synaptic transmission in the central nervous system. When glutamate binds to AMPA receptors, it typically results in the influx of sodium ions (Na+) and the subsequent depolarization of the postsynaptic neuron, contributing to excitatory signal transmission.

In contrast, nicotinic and muscarinic receptors are associated with the neurotransmitter acetylcholine, and they play different roles in the nervous system, particularly in the peripheral nervous system and in certain central nervous system pathways. The α1 receptors, which are adrenergic receptors, are primarily associated with norepinephrine and epinephrine, playing distinct roles in the sympathetic nervous system activation. Thus, while these other receptor types are crucial in their respective pathways, they are not related to the action of glutamate, underscoring the specificity of AMPA receptors in mediating the effects of this key neurotransmitter.