Caspase-3-dependent neuronal death in the hippocampus following kainic acid treatment

In this study, we examined the levels of activated caspase-3 in the kainic acid (KA) model of hippocampal degeneration in both sensitive (FVB/N) and r esistant (129/SvEMS) strains of mice. At 30 h, 2 and 4 days following KA ad ministration, animals were sacrificed and brains examined for pyknosis, TUN EL labeling, and activated caspase-3 immunoreactivity. Catalytically active caspase-3 was first detected 30 h following KA treatment in the sensitive, FVB/N strain. This was 18 h before the appearance of pyknosis or TUNEL lab eling. The expression of activated caspase-3 continues up to 4 days post-in jection. No activated caspase-3 immunoreactivity was detected in the resist ant, 129/SvEMS strain, neither was there evidence of pyknosis or TUNEL stai ning. This suggests that activation of caspase-3 is a necessary component o f KA-induced cell death. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved .