Showing papers by "Dennis W. Choi published in 1986"
TL;DR: The results support the hypothesis that the disease may be caused by excess exposure to quinolinate or some other endogenous N-methyl-D-aspartate agonist, and suggest neurons containing NADPH-d may have an unusual distribution of receptors for excitatory amino acids.
Abstract: Exposure of cultures of cortical cells from mouse to either of the endogenous excitatory neurotoxins quinolinate or glutamate resulted in widespread neuronal destruction; but only in the cultures exposed to quinolinate, an N-methyl-D-aspartate agonist, was there a striking preservation of the subpopulation of neurons containing the enzyme nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate diaphorase (NADPH-d). Further investigation revealed that neurons containing NADPH-d were also resistant to the toxicity of N-methyl-D-aspartate itself but were selectively vulnerable to the toxicity of either kainate or quisqualate. Thus, neurons containing NADPH-d may have an unusual distribution of receptors for excitatory amino acids, with a relative lack of N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors and a relative preponderance of kainate or quisqualate receptors. Since selective sparing of neurons containing NADPH-d is a hallmark of Huntington's disease, the results support the hypothesis that the disease may be caused by excess exposure to quinolinate or some other endogenous N-methyl-D-aspartate agonist.
296 citations
TL;DR: The results suggest that zinc should be included on the growing list of endogenous central neurotoxins which may be involved in the pathogenesis of CNS cell loss in a variety of disease states.
184 citations
TL;DR: The general anesthetic ketamine, which has recently been reported to block the excitation of cortical neurons by N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA), was found to markedly reduce neuronal loss in murine neocortical cell cultures exposed to a hypoxic atmosphere or to cyanide.
146 citations
TL;DR: The coincidence of pathologically confirmed sporadic CJD in two unrelated schoolteachers who shared a school wing for 9 months that developed ataxia, tremulousness, and dementia 5 months after his last contact with his colleague is reported.
Abstract: We report the coincidence of pathologically confirmed sporadic CJD in two unrelated schoolteachers who shared a school wing for 9 months. The first developed ataxia, tremulousness, and dementia 5 months after his last contact with his colleague. Diagnosis of CJD was made 2 months later by brain biopsy. Eight months later, the second teacher developed similar symptoms and died after 9 months. Whether this unique coincidence reflects mere chance or some form of direct viral transmission is unknown. Continued epidemiologic surveillance for any future "coincidence" is warranted.
8 citations