J Korean Neurol Assoc.  1991 Sep;9(3):315-322.

The Stereotaxic Injection of Kainic Acid into Corpus Striatum: Destruction of Neuron with Sparing Axon

• Ahn BC
• Kim DE
• Kwon OS
• Kim KY
• Lee WB
• Kim DC

Abstract

The ultrastructure of the excitotoxic lesion similar to that occurring in the degenerative neuronal disease was produceby stereotaxic injections of 1 nmol and 10 mnol of kainic acid nto the corpus striatum of adult rat brain There were rnarked swellings in the neuronal dendrites at injected sites. Neurotubules and neurofilarnents were disrupted as and amorphous materials and scattered throughout the interior of distended dendrites. Internal cristae and membranes of mitochondria were destroyed with the loss of integrity of intracellular organelles. Disruption of cellular and nuclear membranes occurered in severe cases. But there was no apparent pathologic change in the other structure, ie, synapses, presynaptic and postsynaptic parts, axons and glial cells. The synapses between dendrites and axon terminals were not destroyed despite of marked distension of dendrites. The local administration of excitatory amino acid into the brain caused the destruction of dendrites and neuronal cell bodies, but axons and axon terminals were intact With the lapse of time, axons and axon terminals from the destroyed neuron degenerate Therelore stereotaxic injection of excitatory amino acid into the brain may provldes a method of investigating neuronal connectivity.

Keyword

Corpus striatum; Kainic acid

MeSH Terms

Adult
Animals
Axons*
Brain
Corpus Striatum*
Dendrites
Excitatory Amino Acids
Humans
Kainic Acid*
Membranes
Mitochondria
Neuroglia
Neurons*
Nuclear Envelope
Organelles
Presynaptic Terminals
Rats
Synapses
Excitatory Amino Acids
Kainic Acid