Developmental changes in [3H]kainate binding in human brainstem sites vulnerable to perinatal hypoxia-ischemia.

Abstract

The human brainstem is especially susceptible to hypoxia-ischemia in early life. To test the hypothesis that the period of vulnerability of the developing human brainstem to hypoxia-ischemia correlates with a transient elevation in kainate receptor binding, we compared the quantitative distribution of [3H]kainate binding in brainstem nuclei between four fetuses (19-26 gestational weeks), four infants (one to nine months), and three "mature" individuals (one child and two adults) without neurological disease. Quantitative tissues autoradiography was used. [3H]Kainate binding decreased in all brainstem regions from early life to maturity with the most significant decreases occurring in nuclei thought to be especially vulnerable to perinatal hypoxia-ischemia (e.g. principal inferior olive, griseum pontis, inferior colliculus and reticular core). The highest binding in the fetal and infant period was found primarily in the major cerebellar-relay nuclei. In the inferior olive and arcuate nucleus, binding increased from the fetal to the infant period, and then fell 50-61% to low mature levels. In the griseum pontis, binding decreased 60% between the fetal and mature periods. In the reticular formation, binding fell 67-78% from the fetal to mature period. These data support a correlation between the period of brainstem vulnerability to hypoxia-ischemia in early life to transient elevation in kainate binding, and are particularly relevant to the topographic brainstem patterns in perinatal hypoxia-ischemia of infantile olivary gliosis, pontosubicular necrosis and reticular core damage. Striking localization of [3H]kainate binding to rhombic lip derivatives further suggests that kainate receptors may be involved in the development and function of human brainstem-cerebellar circuitry.

• Authors: A Panigrahy, W F White, L A Rava, H C Kinney
• Journal: Neuroscience (Neuroscience) Vol. 67 Issue 2 Pg. 441-54 (Jul 1995) ISSN: 0306-4522 [Print] United States
• PMID: 7675177 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't, Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.)

Chemical References

• Receptors, Kainic Acid
• Kainic Acid

Topics

• Aged
• Autoradiography
• Brain Ischemia (metabolism, pathology)
• Brain Stem (embryology, growth & development, metabolism)
• Child, Preschool
• Female
• Gestational Age
• Humans
• Hypoxia, Brain (metabolism, pathology)
• Kainic Acid (metabolism)
• Middle Aged
• Pregnancy
• Receptors, Kainic Acid (drug effects, metabolism)