Extracellular levels of quinolinic acid are moderately increased in rat neostriatum following severe insulin-induced hypoglycaemia.

Extracellular concentrations of the brain metabolite quinolinic acid, an endogenous excitotoxin, were monitored by microdialysis in rat neostriatum and hippocampus/cortex during and following a 30-min period of insulin-induced hypoglycaemia. During hypoglycaemia-induced isoelectricity, extracellular levels of quinolinic acid in the striatum (basal value, 1.1 +/- 0.3 pmol per 30-microliters fraction) were elevated 1.7 times as compared to the control period. Thirty to ninety minutes following hypoglycaemia a significant increase in extracellular quinolinic acid to 2.2 times basal level was noted. After 2 h recovery, the beginning of neuronal necrosis was observed in the dorsolateral striatum. Implantation of the dialysis probe did not influence the extent of neuronal damage. No changes in extracellular quinolinic acid levels were observed in the hippocampus/cortex. The data indicate that following a severe hypoglycaemic insult vulnerable striatal cells are exposed to hyperphysiological extracellular quinolinic acid concentrations over an extended period of time. Considering the pronounced susceptibility of rat striatal neurons to the toxin, the small but prolonged elevation in the extracellular levels of quinolinic acid could be of significance for the development of delayed neuronal death in hypoglycaemia.