KAINIC ACID INHIBITS PROTEIN AMINO-ACID-INCORPORATION IN SELECT RAT-BRAIN REGIONS

REGIONAL incorporation of labelled methionine into proteins was studie d with quantitative autoradiography in different regions of the rat br ain 2,5 h following systemic kainic acid administration. Labelled prot ein concentration was found reduced to similar to 40% of control value s in the pyramidal cell layer of hippocampus, piriform, entorhinal and perirhinal cortices, ventral lateral septum and mediodorsal thalamic nucleus. These regions showed increased levels of label not incorporat ed into proteins, indicating that free labelled methionine was availab le for protein synthesis. Reduction of protein amino acid incorporatio n in those brain regions selectively affected by kainic acid may be in volved in subsequent tissue damage.