Abstract Glutamate receptors are widely distributed in the central nervous system(CNS) and participate in the delivery of excitatory neurotransmitters, including ionotropic glutamate receptors and metabotropic glutamate receptors. Metabotropic glutamate receptors(mGluRs) regulate neuronal excitability and synaptic plasticity, and are classified into group Ⅰ, Ⅱ and Ⅲ. The roles of group Ⅰ mGluRs in psychiatric and neurodegenerative diseases have been extensively studied, especially in the pathological progression of acute brain injury. Several studies have shown that group Ⅰ mGluRs can be involved in eliminating inflammatory damage, suppressing cell apoptosis, regulating neural network disorders, and promoting brain function recovery after acute brain injury. Therefore, group Ⅰ mGluRs have the potential to be effective targets for the treatment of acute brain injury. This paper reviews the distribution and function of group Ⅰ mGluRs in CNS, the pathological role in acute brain injury, and explore the potential of the development of drugs targeting group Ⅰ mGluRs.