title: NMDA-induced apoptosis in the developing rat brain.
abstract: The N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR), which is one of the glutamate receptors, is considered to have a close relation to synaptic plasticity in the developing brain. In addition, it is also known that the excessive stimulation of NMDARs can trigger neuronal apoptosis. In this study, we examined the expression of neuronal apoptosis in the developing rat brain after the administration of NMDA to pregnant dams or neonates (embryonal days 18 to postnatal days 14). In the NMDA-treated group, the significant increase in nuclei of apoptotic neuronal cells occurred in the dose-dependent manner in the lateral-ventral regions of the fetal cerebral cortex, reaching maximum values at 24 hours after treatment. On the other hand, the induction of apoptosis did not occur in the neonatal brain.
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Pathology, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Hirotake
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Takai
authors.forename: Kei-Ichi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Katayama
authors.forename: Akira
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Yasoshima
authors.forename: Koji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Uetsuka
authors.forename: Hiroyuki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Nakayama
authors.forename: Kunio
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Doi
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000196:embryology / Q000254:growth & development; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D018690:Excitatory Amino Acid Agonists / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000633:toxicity*; D005260:Female; D020287:In Situ Nick-End Labeling; D007274:Injections, Intraperitoneal; D018811:Maternal Exposure; D016202:N-Methylaspartate / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000633:toxicity*; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects / Q000648:ultrastructure; D038081:Organogenesis / Q000187:drug effects*; D011247:Pregnancy; D051381:Rats
chemical_list: D018690:Excitatory Amino Acid Agonists; D016202:N-Methylaspartate