Referenced in: none

Automatically associated channels: Kv10.1

Title: Multiple classes of the oligodendrocyte lineage are highly vulnerable to excitotoxicity.

Authors: J W McDonald, J M Levine, Y Qu

Journal, date & volume: Neuroreport, 1998 Aug 24 , 9, 2757-62

PubMed link: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9760116

Abstract
We have recently shown that galactocerebroside (Gal-C)-expressing oligodendrocytes are highly vulnerable to (AMPA)/kainate receptor-mediated death. Here we examined the vulnerability of cells at different developmental stages of the oligodendrocyte lineage to AMPA/kainate receptor-mediated excitotoxicity. Oligodendrocyte precursor cells, pre-oligodendrocytes and mature oligodendrocytes were killed by 24 h exposures to low concentrations of kainate (30-100 microM). Death was attenuated by the AMPA/kainate receptor antagonist 6-nitro-7-sulfamoylbenzo(f)quinoxaline-2,3-dione (NBQX). The high vulnerability of oligodendrocytes and their precursors to AMPA/kainate receptor excitotoxicity may represent an important mechanism of white matter damage resulting from trauma or ischemia in the perinatal and adult central nervous system (CNS).