Abstract:

BACKGROUND: The excessive activation of the specific excitatory neurotransmitter receptors may lead to cell         exitotoxicity, the exitotoxic cell death pathway which is involved in the N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors and α-amino-3-hydroxy-5- methyl-4-isoxazole-propionicacid receptors were clear. However, the function of kainite (KA) receptors is still unclear.
OBJECTIVE: To study the effect of the re-distribution of KA receptors after KA injection into the hippocampus of mice on the neuronal exitotoxicity.
METHODS: KA or phosphate buffered saline was injected into the hippocampus of adult male C57BL6 mice. Two hours later, the Bederson score analysis, immunohistochemistry brain sections and neuronal death detection were performed.  
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Bederson score showed severe injury of central nervous system function at 2 hours after injection into the hippocampus. The changes of KA1 receptor expression were mainly in the hippocampal CA1 and CA3 region Obvious up-regulation of KA1 receptor expression and neuronal cell death were mainly in the CA1 region, and abundant cell death could be seen 4-6 hours later. KA can promote the re-distribution of KA1 receptor subunit in the CA region of the hippocampus and increase the excitatory amino acid toxicity of neuron resulted in neuronal cell death and disfunction of the central nervous system.