Excitatory and inhibitory pathways modulate kainate excitotoxicity in hippocampal slice cultures.
In organotypic hippocampal slice cultures, kainate (KA) specifically induces cell loss in the CA3 region while N-methyl-D-aspartate induces cell loss in the CA1 region. The sensitivity of slice cultures to KA toxicity appears only after 2 weeks in vitro which parallels the appearance of mossy fibers. KA toxicity is potentiated by co-application with the GABA-A antagonist, picrotoxin. These data suggest that the excitotoxicity of KA in slice cultures is modulated by both excitatory and inhibitory synapses.
Casaccia-Bonnefil
P
P
Department of Pharmacology, SUNY-HSCB, Brooklyn 11203.
Benedikz
E
E
Rai
R
R
Bergold
P J
PJ
D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects*; D007608:Kainic Acid / Q000633:toxicity*; D016202:N-Methylaspartate / Q000494:pharmacology; D009412:Nerve Fibers / Q000187:drug effects; D009434:Neural Pathways / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects; D009924:Organ Culture Techniques; D010852:Picrotoxin / Q000494:pharmacology; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013569:Synapses / Q000187:drug effects
D007608:Kainic Acid; D016202:N-Methylaspartate; D010852:Picrotoxin