THE relationship between the specific neuronal loss observed in Huntin
gton's disease and the mutation in the IT15 gene responsible for this
disease remains obscure. Using an antipeptide antibody against amino a
cids 3114-3141 of the human huntingtin protein, we demonstrate that st
riatal injection of quinolinic acid in mice induces increased immunore
activity for huntingtin in some remaining neurons but not in glial cel
ls. This increase is apparent in both neuronal cell bodies and in cell
processes in the white matter six hours after excitotoxic challenge.
This finding suggests that huntingtin may be involved in the response
to excitotoxic stress in these neurons.