Linked Life Data

6234446

Source:http://linkedlifedata.com/resource/pubmed/id/6234446

Statements in which the resource exists as a subject.
PredicateObject
rdf:type
lifeskim:mentions
pubmed:issue
1
pubmed:dateCreated
1984-8-14
pubmed:abstractText
In recent years, considerable interest has been shown in the neurotoxin properties of excitatory amino acids and their possible relevance for the study of human neurodegenerative disorders. The term "excitotoxin" has been coined for a family of acidic amino acids which are neuroexcitants and produce a characteristic type of "axon-sparing" neuronal lesion. Intracerebral infusions of kainic and ibotenic acids, the two most commonly used excitotoxins, result in a morphological and biochemical picture in experimental animals which resembles that observed in the brains of Huntington's disease and epilepsy victims. The emergence of such animal models for neurodegenerative disorders has led to the hypothesis that endogenous excitotoxins may exist which are linked to the pathogenesis of human diseases. The most promising candidate discovered so far is quinolinic acid, a hepatic tryptophan metabolite which has recently also been found to occur in brain tissue. The particular excitotoxic properties of quinolinic acid warrant a thorough investigation of its metabolic and synaptic disposition in normal and abnormal brain function. While little is known about the mechanisms by which excitotoxins cause selective neuronal death, most current speculations propose the participation of specific synaptic receptors for acidic amino acids. The recent development of selective antagonists of such receptors has aided in the elucidation of excitotoxic mechanisms. Although a biochemical link between endogenous excitotoxins and human neurodegenerative disorders remains elusive at present, pharmacological blockade of excitotoxicity may constitute a novel therapeutic strategy for the treatment of these disease states.
pubmed:grant
pubmed:language
eng
pubmed:journal
pubmed:citationSubset
IM
pubmed:chemical
pubmed:status
MEDLINE
pubmed:month
Jul
pubmed:issn
0024-3205
pubmed:author
pubmed:issnType
Print
pubmed:day
2
pubmed:volume
35
pubmed:owner
NLM
pubmed:authorsComplete
Y
pubmed:pagination
19-32
pubmed:dateRevised
2007-11-14
pubmed:meshHeading
pubmed:year
1984
pubmed:articleTitle
Excitotoxic models for neurodegenerative disorders.
pubmed:publicationType
Journal Article, Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.