THE EFFECT OF 3-ACETYLPYRIDINE ON INFERIOR OLIVARY NEURON DEGENERATION IN LURCHER MUTANT AND WILD-TYPE MICE

Lurcher mutant and wild-type mice were given intraperitoneal injection s of 3-acetylpyridine to look at the toxic effects of this drug on the inferior olivary neurons. Intraperitoneal administration of 3-acetylp yridine is characterized by the different sensitivity of inferior oliv ary neurons in Lurcher mutant and wild-type mice. Lurcher mutants suff ered a destruction of these neurons while wild-type mice were unaffect ed. The results show that there is a different effect of 3-acetylpyrid ine between genetic mutations and wild-type mice on the same inbred st rain of mice. The different affinity of 3-acetylpyridine for the infer ior olivary neurons of this mutant is briefly discussed. (C) 1997 Else vier Science B.V.