The apoptotic cell death following excitotoxicity is
recapitulated in several in vivo and in vitro models. In a
widely used paradigm of excitotoxicity, kainic acid is employed
to activate non-NMDA glutamate receptors leading
to membrane depolarization and the release of glutamate.
The in vivo application of kainic acid induces seizures and
neuronal apoptosis in the hippocampus (Pollard et al., 1994).
Similarly, kainic acid administered in vitro triggers apoptosis
of cultured primary neurons (Koh et al., 1990).