[Study of histoenzymologic signs of selective neuronal hyperactivity]

Injection of kainic acid into the cerebellum leads to a neuroexcitatory and neurotoxic effect on neurons connected with cerebellar granule cells. Observation of the activities of dehydrogenases taking part in glucose metabolism and glutamate dehydrogenase shows that Purkinje cells undergo a rapid destruction. Lesions of small stellate cells come later. But the basket cells present a long period of hyperactivity revealed by an increase of dehydrogenase activity.