Possessing the property of exciting and then poisoning cells or tissues; examples include nerve injury and death produced by glutamate. [excite + G. toxikon, poison]
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ex·ci·to·tox·ic ik-.sīt-ə-'täk-sik adj being, involving, or resulting from the action of an agent that binds to a nerve cell receptor, stimulates the cell, and damages it or causes its death <\excitotoxic damage to cortical interneurons (R. C. Collins )(et al)>
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ex·ci·to·tox·ic (ek-siґto-tok″sik) having a toxic excitatory effect on the nervous system; see excitotoxin.Medical dictionary. 2011.