Effects of kainic acid lesions on calcium uptake and dopamine release in nerve endings isolated from rat striata.

Rats were injected intrastriatally with kainic acid and the viability of dopaminergic terminals two days following the injection was determined by comparing voltage dependent calcium uptake and dopamine release in isolated nerve endings. Evoked dopamine release remained normal following the lesion, but the initial rate of potassium stimulated calcium entry decreased by approximately 1/3. These results suggest that the excitotoxic lesion caused by acute intrastriatal injection of kainic acid results in retention of functional dopaminergic terminals.