Pulmonary edema as a cause for fulminant death following microinjection of kainic acid into the rat medulla oblongata

The present study confirmed histopathologically the suggestion that pulmonary edema may underlie the fulminant death following microinjection of kainic acid into many medullary sites in rats anesthetized with pentobarbital sodium. We also observed a sustained elevation in systemic arterial pressure, cardiac contractility and heart rate before the animal succumbed to kainate neurotoxicity. It is suggested that the increased systemic hydrostatic pressure may retrogradely promote pulmonary hypertension that precipitates pulmonary edema.