Selective susceptibility of cultured striatal neurons to kainic acid

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Previous work has shown a selective sensitivity of striatal D2‐receptor‐containing neurons (D2 cells) to kainic acid (KA). In order to see whether this phenomenon exists in cultured cells, which could provide a very accessible model for subsequent mechanistic studies, we examined striatal cultures grown for up to 30 days and labeled with either [3H] spiperone, for D2‐receptors, or with [3H] ‐SCH23390, for D1 receptors. Analysis of the cells was performed with a digital imaging system (RAS). The cultured cells were examined for ligand binding to receptors, cell size, and susceptibility to KA. The D2‐cells showed an increased mortality over D1 ‐receptor‐containing neurons (D1 cells) in the presence of KA, of a magnitude similar to in vivo loss, with larger D2‐cells showing the greatest vulnerability.