Gj. Lees et W. Leong, THE SODIUM-POTASSIUM ATPASE INHIBITOR OUABAIN IS NEUROTOXIC IN THE RAT SUBSTANTIA-NIGRA AND STRIATUM, Neuroscience letters, 188(2), 1995, pp. 113-116
Injection of ouabain, a potent and selective inhibitor of Na+/K+ ATPas
e, into the rat striatum and substantia nigra caused a selective neuro
nal loss in up to 70% of the lesioned area. However, there was a glial
cell/macrophage proliferation in the core of the lesion. Neuronal los
s was demonstrated by staining in vivo with Trypan Blue, a marker for
dead cells. Cholinesterase staining was also lost, but in the striatum
this was revealed only after pre-existing enzyme was irreversibly inh
ibited in vivo.