Selective death of cholinergic neurons induced by beta-methylamino-L-alanine

Neuroreport
Xiaoqian LiuDoug Lobner

Abstract

Beta-N-methylamino-L-alanine (BMAA) is a nonprotein amino acid that may be involved in neurodegenerative diseases. It is produced by a large variety of cyanobacteria and is found at high levels in the brains of Alzheimer's disease and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis patients. Although BMAA is clearly a neurotoxin, previous studies using cortical cultures indicated that millimolar concentrations were required to cause toxicity. We tested the toxicity of BMAA in septal cultures containing cholinergic neurons and mesencephalic cultures containing dopaminergic neurons. We found that cholinergic, but not dopaminergic, neurons were selectively vulnerable to BMAA toxicity, with toxicity occurring at 30 microM. The toxicity of BMAA to total septal neurons involved activation of N-methyl D-aspartate receptors, whereas the death of cholinergic neurons was mediated by AMPA/kainate receptors.

References

Oct 2, 1990·European Journal of Pharmacology·S E Smith, B S Meldrum
Nov 13, 2003·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·Paul Alan CoxSusan J Murch
Sep 10, 2004·Acta Neurologica Scandinavica·S J MurchO W Sacks
Jan 28, 2005·Neurochemical Research·Doug Lobner, Geraldine Liot
Apr 6, 2005·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·Paul Alan CoxBirgitta Bergman
Jun 13, 2006·Experimental Neurology·Shyam D RaoJohn H Weiss
Nov 14, 2006·Neurobiology of Disease·Doug LobnerRobert W Peoples
Feb 24, 2007·Molecular Imaging and Biology : MIB : the Official Publication of the Academy of Molecular Imaging·Nicolaas I Bohnen, Kirk A Frey

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Citations

Oct 5, 2011·Neuropharmacology·Xiaoqian LiuDoug Lobner
May 24, 2015·Environmental Toxicology and Pharmacology·Estefanía de MunckRosa M Arahuetes
May 5, 2017·Neurotoxicity Research·Rebecca Albano, Doug Lobner
May 5, 2017·Neurotoxicity Research·R van OnselenT G Downing
Nov 19, 2018·Journal of Hazardous Materials·Korina ManolidiAnastasia Hiskia
Jul 12, 2021·Research in Microbiology·Carly J ItalianoKenneth J Rodgers

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Related Concepts

Related Feeds

Amygdala and Midbrain Dopamine

The midbrain dopamine system is widely studied for its involvement in emotional and motivational behavior. Some of these neurons receive information from the amygdala and project throughout the cortex. When the circuit and transmission of dopamine is disrupted symptoms may present. Here is the latest research on the amygdala and midbrain dopamine.

Amyloid Lateral Sclerosis

Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) is a progressive nervous system disease associated with the death of neurons that control voluntary muscles. Discover the latest research on ALS here.

Related Papers

Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis : Official Publication of the World Federation of Neurology Research Group on Motor Neuron Diseases
Doug Lobner
The Journal of Neuroscience : the Official Journal of the Society for Neuroscience
Birgit FogalSandra J Hewett
© 2022 Meta ULC. All rights reserved