Quisqualic Acid (QA)

Quisqualic acid is an agonist for both AMPA receptors and group I metabotropic glutamate receptors. Quisqualic acid-mediated excitotoxicity has been attributed essentially to the activation of non-N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors.

Incubation of mouse brain sagittal slices with various concentrations of quisqualic acid resulted in significant increase in the leakage of lactate dehydrogenase and potassium from the slices into the medium. Prior incubation of mouse brain slices with NMDA or non-NMDA receptor antagonists protected against quisqualic acid-mediated toxicity. Slices prepared from animals pretreated in vivo with MK-801 were also resistant to the toxic effects of quisqualic acid, indicating the possible involvement of NMDA receptors in quisqualic acid toxicity.