Selective lesions of mesostriatal dopamine neurons ameliorate hypoglycemic damage in the caudate-putamen.

Unilateral 6-hydroxydopamine lesion of the mesostriatal dopaminergic system was found to ameliorate neuronal necrosis in the caudate-putamen following 30 min of insulin-induced hypoglycemic coma. We propose that increased release of dopamine in the striatum during hypoglycemia or in the recovery period potentiates a deleterious neuronal hyperexcitation, probably induced by excessive release of glutamate or related compounds, thereby aggravating neuronal necrosis.