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L-Pyroglutamate: An Alternate Neurotoxin for a Rodent Model of Huntington's Disease

Intrastriatal injections of L-Pyroglutamate (L-PGA) in mice produced behavioral and neuropathological effects that resemble in part the kainate-injected rat striatal model of Huntington's Disease (HD). The behavioral responses induced after unilateral injections of L-PGA included circling, postural asymmetry of head and trunk and possible dyskinesias. The neuropil in the injected striatum contained dilated profiles, degenerating neurons and oligodendroglia, and numerous phagocytic microglial-like cells. A dose response relation existed. The size of the lesion (expressed as a percent volume of the striatum destroyed) ranged from 1±0.18% at 0.02 μmoles to 20.2±3.97% at 200 μmoles L-PGA (pH=7.3). L-PGA is a weak neurotoxin when compared to kainic acid. Several factors raise interest in the possible role of L-PGA in HD, including the recently reported elevated plasma levels of L-PGA in some HD patients [51,52], and these are considered in the discussion.

Identiferoai:union.ndltd.org:ETSU/oai:dc.etsu.edu:etsu-works-14468
Date01 January 1984
CreatorsRieke, Garl K., Scarfe, A. David, Hunter, Jon F.
PublisherDigital Commons @ East Tennessee State University
Source SetsEast Tennessee State University
Detected LanguageEnglish
Typetext
SourceETSU Faculty Works

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