Kainic acid monohydrate (CAS 58002-62-3)

Kainic acid monohydrate, a natural compound found in the seaweed Digenea simplex, is an analog of glutamate and acts as a specific agonist at kainate receptors, a subtype of the glutamate receptor family. This property makes it a powerful tool in neuroscientific research, particularly for the study of synaptic transmission. Kainic acid′s mechanism of action involves binding to kainate receptors on neurons, mimicking the excitatory neurotransmitter glutamate, and thus inducing a rapid influx of cations, including sodium and calcium, into the neuron. This influx leads to neuronal depolarization and can trigger a cascade of events that mimic excitotoxicity, a process where excessive glutamate receptor activation leads to neuronal injury and death. Through controlled application, researchers utilize kainic acid monohydrate to model neurodegenerative diseases in animals, enabling the study of the progression of conditions such as epilepsy and to explore the potential strategies against excitotoxic damage. Its role in elucidating the intricate mechanisms of neuronal communication and pathology makes kainic acid monohydrate a valuable compound in the advancement of neurobiology in mammals.