L-Pyroglutamate: An Alternate Neurotoxin for a Rodent Model of Huntington's Disease
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
1-1-1984
Description
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.
Citation Information
Rieke, Garl K.; Scarfe, A. David; and Hunter, Jon F.. 1984. L-Pyroglutamate: An Alternate Neurotoxin for a Rodent Model of Huntington's Disease. Brain Research Bulletin. Vol.13(3). 443-456. https://doi.org/10.1016/0361-9230(84)90096-0 PMID: 6238648 ISSN: 0361-9230