The N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor is present in the central nervous system where it has an excitatory effect on neuronal activity. A number of ligands exist for the NMDA receptor, and two of these include glutamate and glycine. Glutamate can bind the receptor in more than one orientation, and it is able to bind through a guided-diffusion process based on its charge. In contrast glycine binds to the NMDA receptor via a passive diffusion process, which involves random association. The widespread nature of the NMDA receptors suggest that ligands that bind to it as agonists might have significant effects on the central nervous system. Another agonist of the NMDA receptor is the chemical D-aspartate. One particular function of the NMDA receptor is the activation of the hypothalamus which in turn signals the anterior pituitary to release luteinizing hormone. In this way glutamate, glycine and D-aspartate may all cause the release of luteinizing hormone from the brain.
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