红藻氨酸致痫后大鼠海马神经元和星形胶质细胞的反应性变化

Responses of neurons and astrocytes in rat hippocampus to kainic acid-induced seizures

目的研究红藻氨酸(Kainic acid, KA)诱导大鼠癫痫发作后海马内神经元和星形胶质细胞的反应变化情况。方法立体定向大鼠侧脑室内注射KA引起大鼠癫痫发作,用抗即早反应基因Fos蛋白和抗神经胶质原纤维酸性蛋白(GFAP)的免疫组织化学方法,分别观察痫性发作后在各时间点反应性神经元和星形胶质细胞在海马各区的分布情况。结果KA诱导大鼠癫痫发作后,海马内Fos阳性神经元和GFAP阳性星形胶质细胞明显增多。癫痫发作30 min后GFAP开始增多,1 h达高峰;1 h 后Fos阳性产物开始增多,2 h达高峰。结论海马内反应性的神经元和星形胶质细胞在癫痫发作后增加,反应性星形胶质细胞可能参与癫痫的发生及其调节。

Objective To investigate the time course of the responses of neurons and astrocytes in rat hippocampus (HI) to kainic acid (KA)-induced seizures in various regions. Methods By means immunohistochemical staining for anti-Fos protein and anti-glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), the regional distribution of reactive neurons and astrocytes in the HI was observed at different time points after a unilateral stereotaxic microinjection of KA into the lateral ventricle of rats to cause limbic and generalized convulsive seizures. Results The injection of KA triggered limbic motor seizures including immobilization, staring, facial and jaw clonus ect. followed by recurrent generalized convulsive seizures. After KA-induced seizures, the GFAP-positive astrocytes and Fos-positive neurons were markedly increased in the HI. The increase of GFAP immunoreactivity was observed 30 min after the seizure onset, reaching the maximum at 1 h; the increase of Fos immunoreactivity was detected at 1 h after the onset, peaking at 2 h. Conclusion The neurons and astrocytes in rat HI are highly active during seizures and the reactive astrocytes might play an important role in epileptogenesis.