SEIZURE-INDUCED GLUTAMATE RELEASE IN MATURE AND IMMATURE ANIMALS - ANIN-VIVO MICRODIALYSIS STUDY

A glutamate biosensor was used to measure extracellular glutamate conc entrations in the hippocampus of mature and immature animals. Signific ant elevations of extracellular glutamate were observed following seiz ures induced by either kainic acid or pilocarpine. The degree of gluta mate increase following seizures was similar in both mature and immatu re animals. These results suggest that excitotoxicity may play a role in seizure-induced brain damage in the adult brain. In the immature br ain, however, no brain damage is seen after seizures, suggesting that glutamate release may not cause as significant excitotoxic damage earl y in development.