ALPHA-AMINOADIPATE BLOCKS THE NEUROTOXIC ACTION OF N-METHYL ASPARTATE

The excitatory amino acids, glutamate (Glu) and N-methyl aspartate (NMA), were administered subcutaneously to mice in doses sufficient to destroy neurons of the arcuate hypothalamic nucleus (AH). Pretreatment with glutamic acid diethylester (GDEE) or α-aminoadipate (αAA), agents proposed as specific antagonist of the excitatory actions of Glu and NMA respectively, resulted in suppression by αAA of the neurotoxic activities both agonist (NMA > Glu), while GDEE exerted no detectable influence over the neurotoxic actions of either aginists. These findings, with other accumulating evidence, suggest that an excitatory mechanism underline the neurotoxicity of these agents and that AH neurons may have predominantly aspartergic excitatory inputs. © 1979.