Selectivity of kainic acid as a neurotoxin within the dorsal lateral geniculate nucleus of the cat: a model for transneuronal retrograde degeneration.
In situ injections of the cytotoxin kainic acid were used to make localized lesions of the dorsal lateral geniculate nucleus in the adult cat to produce a model for studying the effects of postsynaptic target loss. Kainic acid has been used extensively to produce lesions of neuronal cell bodies within the central nervous system. However, the selectivity of kainic acid has been questioned, as it may also affect afferent terminals or axons of passage. Retinal projections to degenerated geniculate nuclei were visualized 1 week after kainate injection using anterograde labelling with horseradish peroxidase and electron microscopy. The results demonstrate the presence of afferent terminals within regions of neuronal loss, and hence the selectivity of kainic acid for intrinsic geniculate neurons.
Pearson
H E
HE
Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Temple University School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19140.
Sonstein
W J
WJ
Stoffler
D J
DJ
D000818:Animals; D002415:Cats; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005829:Geniculate Bodies / Q000187:drug effects*; D006735:Horseradish Peroxidase; D007608:Kainic Acid / Q000633:toxicity*; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D009410:Nerve Degeneration / Q000187:drug effects*; D012160:Retina / Q000187:drug effects; D014795:Visual Pathways / Q000187:drug effects
D006735:Horseradish Peroxidase; D007608:Kainic Acid