PHA-AMINO-3-HYDROXY-5-METHYL-4-ISOXAZOLEPROPIONATE AND KAINATE DIFFERENTLY AFFECT NEURONAL CYTOARCHITECTURE OF RAT CEREBELLAR GRANULE CELLS

Rat cerebellar granule cells cultured in media containing 12 mM KCI sh owed short life-span, did not branch, and died after 10 days in vitro. The cell exposure to N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) or to kainate promot ed both neuron survival and branching, reproducing the viability and t he neurite extension routinely observed in cultures maintained in medi a containing 25 mM KCl. Exposure of neurons to alpha-amino3-hydroxy5-m ethyl-4- isoxazolepropionate (AMPA) resulted in an increased survival not associated with neuritic arborization. These results suggest that the glutamate ionotropic receptor subtypes differently contribute in e laborating neuronal morphogenesis.