INVOLVEMENT OF AMPA/KAINATE-EXCITOTOXICITY IN MK801-INDUCED NEURONAL DEATH IN THE RETROSPLENIAL CORTEX

C. BENDER, M. RASSETTO, J. S. DE OLMOS, S. DE OLMOS, A. LORENZO

PERGAMON-ELSEVIER SCIENCE LTD

Año: 2010 vol. 169 p. 720 - 720

MK801 is a prototypical non-competitive NMDA receptor-antagonist that induces behavioural changes and reversible toxicity at low doses, while at higher doses triggers neuronal death that mainly affects the retrosplenial cortex (RSC) and to a lesser extent other structures such as the posterolateral cortical amygdaloid nucleus (PLCo). The mechanism of MK801-induced neurodegeneration remains poorly understood. In this study we analysed the participation of GABA-ergic and glutamatergic neurotransmission in MK801-induced neuronal death. We used a single i.p. injection of MK801 (2.5 mg/kg) that induced moderate neuronal death in the RSC and PLCo of female rats, and combined this treatment with the i.p., i.c.v., or intra-RSC infusion of drugs that are selective agonists or antagonists of the GABA-ergic or glutamatergic neurotransmission. We found that neuronal death in the RSC, but not the PLCo, was significantly reduced by the i.p. injection of thiopental, and the i.c.v.