KAINIC ACID HAS CELL-SPECIFIC EFFECTS ON SURVIVAL OF HYPOTHALAMIC MOUSE NEURONS INVITRO

CULTURES of mouse hypothalamus from embryonic day 15 fetuses were expo sed to kainic acid (KA) to study effects on survival of selected cell populations. After 6 days in vitro, immunocytochemistry revealed destr uction of dopaminergic and GABAergic neurones after KA-treatment, wher eas numbers of oxytocinergic cells and neurones containing metEnkephal in were unchanged. Surviving neurones were characterized by a loss of processes or a reduction of process length. Glial cell numbers did not show any differences between groups. Amino acid concentrations decrea sed after KA-treatment; only glutamine and taurine levels were unaffec ted. We conclude that toxic effects of KA differ with respect to disti nct neuronal populations of the mouse hypothalamus. Therefore, experim ental data concerning neuronal destruction under in vitro conditions h ave to take into account the selectivity of this neurotoxic agent.