Kynurenic Acid Blocks Neurotoxicity and Seizures Induced in Rats by the Related Brain Metabolite Quinolinic Acid

Overview

Journal Neurosci Lett

Specialty Neurology

Date 1984 Aug 10

PMID 6237279

Citations 107

Authors

A C FOSTER

A Vezzani

E D French

R Schwarcz

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Kynurenic acid (KYNA) was tested as an antagonist of the neurotoxic and epileptogenic effects of the metabolically related brain constituent quinolinic acid (QUIN). In the rat striatum, KYNA blocked the neurotoxic effects of QUIN in preference to those of other excitotoxins. In the hippocampus, KYNA antagonized both the neurodegeneration and seizures caused by the local application of QUIN. These properties of KYNA raise the possibility of a functional link between KYNA and QUIN in the brain which may be of relevance for an understanding of human neurodegenerative disorders.

Citing Articles

Lack of Evidence for Kynurenine Pathway Dysfunction in Huntington's Disease: CSF and Plasma Analyses from the HDClarity Study.

Khetarpal V, Herbst T, Dominguez C, Munoz-Sanjuan I, Sampaio C, Marks B J Huntingtons Dis. 2025; 14(1):85-92.

PMID: 39906760 PMC: 7617368. DOI: 10.1177/18796397241301761.

Importance of Modulating Kynurenic Acid Metabolism-Approaches for the Treatment of Dementia.

Baran H, Jan Pietryja M, Kepplinger B Biomolecules. 2025; 15(1).

PMID: 39858468 PMC: 11764436. DOI: 10.3390/biom15010074.

Dysregulation of the Kynurenine Pathway in Relapsing Remitting Multiple Sclerosis and Its Correlations With Progressive Neurodegeneration.

Staats Pires A, Krishnamurthy S, Sharma S, Chow S, Klistorner S, Guillemin G Neurol Neuroimmunol Neuroinflamm. 2025; 12(2):e200372.

PMID: 39823555 PMC: 11744609. DOI: 10.1212/NXI.0000000000200372.

Activation of the kynurenine pathway identified in individuals with covert hepatic encephalopathy.

Zeng G, Krishnamurthy S, Staats Pires A, Guller A, Chaganti J, Tun N Hepatol Commun. 2025; 8(12.

PMID: 39774873 PMC: 11567712. DOI: 10.1097/HC9.0000000000000559.

Genetic association of the kynurenine pathway to suicidal behavior.

Tamimou R, Montout C, Mura T, Conejero I, Evrard A, Courtet P Brain Behav Immun Health. 2024; 42:100903.

PMID: 39650284 PMC: 11625281. DOI: 10.1016/j.bbih.2024.100903.