Morphological and Biochemical Changes in the Cerebellum Induced by Kainic Acid In Vivo

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Abstract
Injection Of nanomole quantities Of kainic acid into The Rat cerebellum resulted in a rapid and selective destruction Of neurons. At all times Studied, the purkinje cells were depleted following injection, and this loss was paralleled by a decrease in GABA levels, high‐affinity neuronal GABA uptake, and in glutamate decarboxylase activity. For the first 3 days following injection The granule cells were not reduced in numbers and the high‐affinity uptake of glutamate was similarly not decreased. After 4‐6 days, however, the granule cells were substantially depleted, although No clear changes in glutamate up‐take were observed. The normal laminar structure of the cerebellum was extensively disrupted and glial proliferation was evident. Measurement of endogenous amino acid levels showed a decrease in glutamate and aspartate levels after kainic acid injection. glycine levels were consistently increased while glutamine and alanine were unchanged. GABA receptor binding was decreased after injection, but glutamate binding was enhanced.