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Trimethyltin-induced loss of NMDA and kainate receptors in the rat brain

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Summary

Adult rats exposed acutely to trimethyltin (TMT) manifest a number of behavioral alterations, in conjunction with neuronal degeneration in the limbic system. In the present study, changes in3H-TCP binding to N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors and3H-kainic acid (KA) binding to kainate receptors were studied by autoradiographic methods following TMT exposure (8 mg/kg, i.p.) in adult Sprague Dawley rats. No significant alterations were found at 4 hours after exposure. An extensive loss of3H-TCP and3H-KA binding was seen in the hilar region of the CA3 field at 2 and 12 weeks after TMT exposure. Also, the3H-TCP binding was decreased in piriform cortex and in striatum. Thus, TMT exposure leads to a major and regional selective loss of NMDA and kainate receptors in the limbic system, alterations that may be involved in the neuropathology and behavioral sequelae of TMT toxicity.

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Abbreviations

TMT:

trimethyltin

NMDA:

N-methyl-D-aspartate

KA:

Kainic acid

TCP:

N-(1-2-thienylcyclohexyl)-3,4-piperidine

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Neuroscience, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden

    H. Andersson & J. Luthman

  2. Department of Neuropharmacology, CNS Preclinical R&D, Astra Arcus AB, S-151 85, Södertälje, Sweden

    A. -C. Radesäter & J. Luthman

Authors
  1. H. Andersson
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  2. A. -C. Radesäter
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  3. J. Luthman
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Andersson, H., Radesäter, A.C. & Luthman, J. Trimethyltin-induced loss of NMDA and kainate receptors in the rat brain. Amino Acids 8, 23–35 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00806541

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00806541

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