Kainic acid, the analog of excitatory amino acid L-glutamate, interacts with specific receptors in the central nervous system. During last 25 years it has become a tool for studying many human brain disorders, for example human temporal lobe epilepsy, Huntington's chorea etc. Systemic administration of kainic acid results in neuronal death in experimental animals. The mechanism, by which kainic acid produces neuronal damage is still unclear, as well as physiological function of kainate receptors remain to be elucidate. This review attempts to survey the major achievements reached in the studies, which were publicized throw the last three decades.