Reduction of naturally-occurring cell death by kainic acid in the retina of chicken embryos.
The development of the nervous system can be modified by the application of transmitter agonist or antagonists. Therefore, the growth of the retina in chicken embryos was studied after injection of the excitatory amino acid, kainate, during the second half of the pre-hatching period. Quantitative anatomical and biochemical investigations were undertaken. In the kainate treated animals the volume of the retina and its different layers was seen to exceed significantly those of control retinas from the 14th ontogenetic day onwards. This was accompanied by a total increase in cell number as well as DNA content on the 18th day of ontogenesis, though the mitotic activity during this period was comparable to that in the control group, and signs of degenerative processes ("rosettes") were found. Therefore, we conclude that the excitatory amino acid, kainate, reduces the naturally occurring cell death in the embryonic retina.
Reuter
G
G
Hearing Research Laboratories, University of Tübingen, Germany.
Zilles
K
K
D000818:Animals; D002452:Cell Count; D016923:Cell Death / Q000187:drug effects*; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D002642:Chick Embryo; D005314:Embryonic and Fetal Development; D007608:Kainic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012160:Retina / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects / Q000196:embryology; D013936:Thymidine / Q000378:metabolism; D014316:Tritium
D014316:Tritium; D007608:Kainic Acid; D013936:Thymidine