There are two different types of ionotropic glutamate recept

There are two different types of ionotropic glutamate receptors, AMPA and NMDA receptors. NMDA receptors have a higher affinity, that is a lower EC50, for glutamate than AMPA receptors. All other things being equal, which receptor would most likely be saturated by a glutamate release event?

Solution

AMPA would be saturated because the synaptic currents produced by NMDA receptors at the glutamate release event are slower and longer-lasting than the those produced by AMPA/kainate receptors.This means AMPA would get saturated due to poor currents while NMDA will survive andwont be saturated during such an event.Moreover

the NMDA receptor ion channels help in allowing the entry of Ca²⁺ along with the various monovalent cations such as Na⁺ and K⁺which does not happen in the case of AMPA.