title: Evidence that neurons of the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus with projections to the spinal cord are sensitive to the toxic effects of N-methyl aspartic acid.
abstract: Controversy exists concerning the sensitivity of neurons of the paraventricular nucleus (PVN) of the hypothalamus to the toxic effects of N-methyl aspartic acid (NMA). To further investigate this problem, male golden hamsters (Mesocricetus auratus) received unilateral intrahypothalamic injections of NMA, coupled with injections of horseradish peroxidase into the area of the spinal cord which receives projections from the PVN. Histological evaluation of the brains showed that the NMA injections destroyed PVN neurons that project to the spinal cord. These results are discussed in reference to previous reports on the effects of NMA injections on photoperiod-dependent seasonal cycles in hamsters.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001224:Aspartic Acid / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000633:toxicity; D006224:Cricetinae; D006735:Horseradish Peroxidase; D008297:Male; D016202:N-Methylaspartate; D009434:Neural Pathways / Q000187:drug effects; D010286:Paraventricular Hypothalamic Nucleus / Q000187:drug effects*; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000166:cytology
chemical_list: D001224:Aspartic Acid; D016202:N-Methylaspartate; D006735:Horseradish Peroxidase