Kainate induces apoptosis in neurons

Growing evidence suggests that non-N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor activation may contribute to neuronal death in both acute and chronic neurological diseases. The intracellular processes that mediate this form of neuronal death are poorly understood. We have previously characterized a model of kainate neurotoxicity using cerebellar granule cell neurons in vitro and we sought to determine the mechanism of kainate-induced neuronal degeneration. We found DNA laddering by agarose gel electrophoresis, cellular DNA fragmentation by in situ end iabeling of DNA, and chromatin condensation using a fluorescent DNA intercalating dye, in cerebellar granule cells following exposure to kainate (100 mu M). Aurintricarboxylic acid protected cerebellar granule cells from kainate-induced death. While the morphological and biochemical features of neuronal death induced by kainate resembled low-K+-induced apoptosis in cerebellar granule cells, the time interval from the institution of the death-promoting condition to neuronal death was briefer with kainate and did not require new protein or RNA synthesis. These results demonstrate that kainate receptor activation can induce transcription-independent apoptosis in neurons. This in vitro model should be useful in identifying the intracellular pathways that link kainate receptor activation with apoptosis. Copyright (C) 1996 IBRO.