Kainic acid is an excitatory amino acid receptor agonist (EC50=16.2 μM). Kainic acid is an effective excitatory toxic agent. Kainic acid induces epileptic seizures.

Glutamate receptor 5 (HEK293 cells):16.2 μM (EC50), Neuron:17.3 μM (EC50), Glutamate receptor 6 (HEK293 cells):0.7 μM (EC50)

METHODS: After the NSC-34 mouse motor neuron cell line was treated with Kainic acid (0.1 mM, 0.5 mM, 1 mM) for 24 and 48 hours, the cell viability was detected by the MTT method.
RESULTS: Kainic acid induced excitotoxic injury, with an IC50 value of approximately 0.5 mM. [1]

METHODS: To study the effect of Kainic acid on epileptic seizures, Kainic acid (30 mg/kg) was intraperitoneally injected into juvenile (20 mg/kg) or adult (30 mg/kg) male Slack+/+ and Slack−/− mice.
RESULTS: After injection of 30 mg/kg of Kainic acid, grade 3 or above epileptic seizures occurred in mice within 20 minutes. Different mouse strains have different sensitivities to Kainic acid. For example, Slack - / - mice are more prone to severe epileptic seizures and status epilepticus (SE), and have a higher mortality rate than Slack+/+ mice. [2]