不同预缺血时间及间隔时间窗对CA_1区锥体细胞的影响

目的 :探讨预缺血时间及间隔时间窗对CA1区锥体细胞的影响。方法 :钳夹沙土鼠的双侧颈总动脉制造脑缺血模型 ,应用尼氏染色观察迟发性神经元坏死。结果 :3 5min前脑缺血再灌流 7d前 ,1min的预缺血时间没有保护作用 ;2min预缺血时间 ,间隔 6h对脑缺血没有保护作用 ,间隔 1、3、5、7d对脑缺血有保护作用 ,间隔 15d对脑缺血保护作用消失。结论 :2min预缺血时间导致脑内复杂的分子生物学变化 ,间隔时窗 1～ 7d对CA1区锥体细胞有保护作用     

蛋白激酶C抑制剂对缺血／再灌注海马CA1区迟发性神经元死亡的作用研究

目的:蛋白激酶C与脑组织缺血性损害有密切关系,且证明可调节一氧化氮合成酶的活性。作为PKC抑制剂,灯盏花素可抑制蛋白激酶C的活性,但其对大鼠海马CAl区缺血/再灌注损害的作用和机制需深入研究。方法:四血管闭塞复制大鼠前脑缺血／再灌注模型,观察PKC抑制剂灯盏花素对海马CAl区NO浓度、局部脑血流量及CAl区锥体细胞密度变化的影响。结果:PKC抑制剂灯盏花素对大鼠海马CAl区缺血／再灌注脑组织的作用为降低CAl区局部NO的产生、明显改善脑组织的rCBF和显著降低该区锥体细胞的脱失。结论:PKC抑制剂对大鼠前脑缺血／再灌注所致海马CAl区迟发性神经元死亡的保护作用与其降低局部NO的产生及增加局部脑血流量有密切关系。     

蛋白激酶C抑制剂对缺血/再灌注海马CAl区迟发性神经元死亡的作用研究

目的:蛋白激酶C与脑组织缺血性损害有密切关系,且证明可调节一氧化氮合成酶的活性。作为PKC抑制剂,灯盏花素可抑制蛋白激酶C的活性,但其对大鼠海马CAl区缺血/再灌注损害的作用和机制需深入研究。方法:四血管闭塞复制大鼠前脑缺血／再灌注模型,观察PKC抑制剂灯盏花素对海马CAl区NO浓度、局部脑血流量及CAl区锥体细胞密度变化的影响。结果:PKC抑制剂灯盏花素对大鼠海马CAl区缺血／再灌注脑组织的作用为降低CAl区局部NO的产生、明显改善脑组织的rCBF和显著降低该区锥体细胞的脱失。结论:PKC抑制剂对大鼠前脑缺血／再灌注所致海马CAl区迟发性神经元死亡的保护作用与其降低局部NO的产生及增加局部脑血流量有密切关系。     

Modulation of an inhibitory circuit by adenosine and AMP in the hippocampus

The action of adenosine or AMP on the efficacy of a recurrent inhibitory loop was examined utilizing the hippocampal slice preparation. A reversible attenuation of paired-pulse inhibition was produced by micromolar concentrations of these compounds. Thus, in addition to its well-described capacity for reducing the strength of excitatory circuitry, adenosine appears capable of attenuating inhibitory circuitry.     

Hyperbaric oxygenation prevents delayed neuronal death following transient ischaemia in the gerbil hippocampus

The mechanism of the neuroprotective effect of hyperbaric oxygenation remains unclear although its clinical benefits have been well recognized for human ischaemic neuronal disease. The preventive effect of hyperbaric oxygenation against delayed neuronal death was investigated in the gerbil following transient forebrain ischaemia. Delayed neuronal death in the gerbil was produced by clips on both the common carotid arteries (10 min). Morphological examination was carried out after several protocols of hyperbaric oxygenation, modified from the protocols for human ischaemic neuronal disease. Neurons in the hippocampal CA₁ were well preserved in the gerbils treated with hyperbaric oxygenation, more so than in the gerbils with no hyperbaric oxygenation. Moreover, more neurons were preserved in the CA₁ treated with hyperbaric oxygenation within 6 h of the ischaemia, than when the hyperbaric oxygenation was started 24 h after the ischaemia. The induction of heat shock proteins (HSP72 and HSP27) became weaker in the gerbils with hyperbaric oxygenation than in those without hyperbaric oxygenation, as seen immunohistochemically. We also observed an increase in dense bodies, that were shown to be lysosomes and myelinoid structures in the cytoplasm of the neurons ultrastructurally, in the hippocampus with hyperbaric oxygenation. However, no oxygen toxicity to the neurons was detected, up to at least two atmospheres absolute. This experimental system was useful to investigate the preventive mechanism of hyperbaric oxygenation against delayed neuronal death in the gerbil, and to determine the clinical indications and the most effective protocol for hyperbaric oxygenation for ischaemic neuronal damage in the human brain.     

Postischemic alterations of complex spike cell discharges and evoked potentials in rat hippocampal CA1 region

Postischemic alterations of spontaneous discharges of complex spike cells (CS cells) and evoked potential in the rat hippocampal CA1 region were studied. Following 5 min of ischemia, CS cell discharge reappeared approximately 5 min after reperfusion and the frequency remained low, reaching a final value of 66.1 +/- 16.0% (n = 11) of preischemic frequency 2 h later. However, only one of 7 CS cells subjected to 20 min of ischemia exhibited discharges 2 h later. In the group with 5 min of ischemia, we obtained CS cell discharges from all rats at both 1 and 2 days after ischemia, with cluster frequencies indistinguishable from preischemic levels. In the group with 20 min of ischemia, discharges were noted in 7 neurons of 11 rats after 1 day, and in only 2 neurons of 8 rats after 2 days: their mean frequencies were lower than preischemic levels. In experiments of evoked potentials, the mean percentages of amplitudes of the post-synaptic potential (psp) 2 h after 3, 5 and 20 min of ischemia were 98.0 +/- 10.7 (n = 8), 70.7 +/- 8.22 (n = 9) and 45.1 +/- 6.34% (n = 7) of preischemic amplitudes, respectively. These results suggest that the functional deterioration of spike generation, as well as synaptic transmission, starts during transient ischemia and/or at the early stage of reperfusion.     

大鼠脑缺血再灌注后星形胶质细胞反应性变化差异与海马CA1区的迟发性神经元死亡

BACKGROUND： Blood supply to the hippocampus is not provided by the middle cerebral artery. However, previous studies have shown that delayed neuronal death in the hippocampus may occur following focal cerebral ischemia induced by middle cerebral artery occlusion.
OBJECTIVE： To observe the relationship between reactive changes in hippocampal astrocytes and delayed neuronal death in the hippocampal CA1 region following middle cerebral artery occlusion.
DESIGN, TIME AND SETTING： The immunohistochemical, randomized, controlled animal study was performed at the Laboratory of Department of Neurology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, from July to November 2007.
MATERIALS： Rabbit anti-glial fibrillary acidic protein （GFAP） （Neomarkers, USA）, goat anti-rabbit IgG （Sigma, USA） and ApoAlert apoptosis detection kit （Biosciences Clontech, USA） were used in this study. METHODS： A total of 42 healthy adult male Wistar rats, aged 3–5 months, were randomly divided into a sham operation group （n = 6） and a cerebral ischemia/reperfusion group （n = 36）. In the cerebral ischemia/reperfusion group, cerebral ischemia/reperfusion models were created by middle cerebral artery occlusion. In the sham operation group, the thread was only inserted into the initial region of the internal carotid artery, and middle cerebral artery occlusion was not induced. Rats in the cerebral ischemia/reperfusion group were assigned to a delayed neuronal death （＋） subgroup and a delayed neuronal death （–） subgroup, according to the occurrence of delayed neuronal death in the ischemic side of the hippocampal CA1 region following cerebral ischemia.
MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES： Delayed neuronal death in the hippocampal CA1 region was measured by Nissl staining. GFAP expression and delayed neuronal death changes were measured in the rat hippocampal CA1 region at the ischemic hemisphere by double staining for GFAP and TUNEL.
RESULTS： After 3 days of ischemia/reperfusion, astrocytes with abnormal morphology were detected in the rat hippocampal CA1 region in the delayed neuronal death （＋） subgroup. No significant difference in GFAP expression was found in the rat hippocampal CA1 region at the ischemic hemisphere in the sham operation group, delayed neuronal death （＋） subgroup and delayed neuronal death （–） subgroup （P 〉 0.05）. After 7 days of ischemia/reperfusion, many GFAP-positive cells, which possessed a large cell body and an increased number of processes, were activated in the rat hippocampal CA1 region at the ischemic hemisphere. GFAP expression in the hippocampal CA1 region was greater in the delayed neuronal death （＋） subgroup and delayed neuronal death （–） subgroup compared with the sham operation group （P 〈 0.01）. Moreover, GFAP expression was significantly greater in the delayed neuronal death （–） subgroup than in the delayed neuronal death （＋） subgroup （P 〈 0.01）. After 30 days of ischemia/reperfusion, GFAP-positive cells were present in scar-like structures in the rat hippocampal CA1 region at the ischemic hemisphere. GFAP expression was significantly greater in the delayed neuronal death （＋） subgroup and delayed neuronal death （–） subgroup compared with the sham operation group （P 〈 0.05）. GFAP expression was significantly lower in the delayed neuronal death （–） subgroup than in the delayed neuronal death （＋） subgroup （P 〈 0.05）. The delayed neuronal death rates were 42% （5/12）, 33% （4/12） and 33% （4/12） at 3, 7 and 30 days, respectively, followingischemia/reperfusion. No significant differences were detected at various time points （χ2 = 0.341, P 〉 0.05）.
CONCLUSION： The activation of astrocytes was poor in the hippocampal CA1 region during the early stages of ischemia, which is an important reason for delayed neuronal death. Glial scar formation aggravated delayed neuronal death during the advanced ischemic stage.     

Adenosine suppresses protein kinase A- and C-induced enhancement of glutamate release in the hippocampus

Cultured hippocampal neurons from neonatal rats were used to investigate the effect of adenosine on the release of glutamate. Spontaneous tetrodotoxin-resistant miniature excitatory postsynaptic currents (mEPSCs) through AMPA receptor channels were recorded by means of the whole-cell patch-clamp technique. Adenosine (50 microM) reversibly reduced the frequency of mEPSCs by approximately 50-60%, but did not change their amplitudes. The protein kinase A inhibitor Rp-cyclic adenosine monophosphate (100-150 microM) did not block the adenosine-dependent reduction of the mEPSC frequency, showing that adenosine is not depressing synaptic transmission via a protein kinase A (PKA)-dependent mechanism. The D1 dopamine agonist SKF-38393 (250 microM), forskolin (5 microM) and 8Br-cAMP (2 mM), known to activate the cAMP/PKA-dependent signalling pathway, all enhanced the mEPSC frequency. A subsequent application of adenosine (50 microM) strongly reduced the potentiation produced by any one of these three drugs. It also reversed protein kinase C (PKC)-dependent stimulation of glutamate release induced by phorbol myristate acetate (100 nM). Taken together, adenosine not only inhibits the spontaneous release of glutamate independently of protein kinases A and C but also reverses the enhancement of exocytosis produced by protein kinases A and C activators.     

Extracellular Activation of Unitary Excitatory Synapses Between Hippocampal CA3 and CA1 Pyramidal Cells

The possibility of regular activation of unitary excitatory synapses on hippocampal CA1 cells by electrical stimulation of Schaffer collaterals was explored in the rat. The amplitude of the excitatory postsynaptic currents (EPSCs) and failures in response to a range of stimulation intensities around the threshold for the smallest detectable EPSC were analysed. After an abrupt appearance of EPSCs in response to increasing stimulation strength, both EPSC amplitude and failure rate could reach a plateau where increasing stimulation intensity did not cause additional responses. This was interpreted as a regular activation of mainly a single axon. Statistical methods showed, however, that only 12 out of ∼50 experiments using threshold stimulation were without significant contamination from additional fibres. In this subset of experiments, upper limits for contamination from other fibres were estimated by using bootstrapping methods. More than 90% of the responses were probably due to faithful activation of a single axon, assuming that the density of axons connecting to one target cell is relatively homogeneous. This result makes the described method suitable for examining some aspects of the transmission between individual hippocampal cells.     

Difference in time course of modulation of synaptic transmission by group II versus group III metabotropic glutamate receptors in region CA1 of the hippocampus

We investigated the time course of modulation of synaptic transmission by group II and group III metabotropic glutamate receptors in region CA1 of the hippocampus. In the presence of 50 microM picrotoxin, pressure pulse application of 1 mM glutamate resulted in a fast onset of suppression of synaptic transmission in stratum lacunosum moleculare and a slower onset of suppression in stratum radiatum, with both effects returning to baseline over the course of several minutes. Application of 50 microM of the group II agonist (2R,4R)-APDC in stratum lacunosum moleculare resulted in the same fast onset of suppression while having no effect in stratum radiatum. Pressure pulse application of 100 microM DL-AP4 in stratum lacunosum moleculare and stratum radiatum resulted in a much slower onset of suppression of synaptic transmission than (2R,4R)-APDC. Suppression by (2R,4R)-APDC was accompanied by a rapid enhancement of paired pulse facilitation, indicative of a presynaptic mechanism. This demonstrates that activation of group II mGluRs in the hippocampus causes a fast onset of suppression in stratum lacunosum moleculare, while activation of group III mGluRs causes a slower onset of suppression. The difference in time course for group II vs. group III mGluRs suggests a different functional role, with group II playing a potential role in making synapses act as low pass filters.     

Immunohistochemical localization of lysosomal cysteine protease cathepsins B and L in monkey hippocampal neurons after transient ischemia

The mechanism by which hippocampal neurons are selectively vulnerable to ischemic injury remains unclarified. Neuronal lysosomes are known to contain the cysteine protease cathepsins, which may be involved in the mechanism of delayed neuronal death. In this study, the expression and localization of cathepsins in the postischemic hippocampal neurons of the monkey were examined. Enzymatic activities and protein levels of cathepsins B and L were increased after ischemia in both the vulnerable CA1 sector and the remaining resistant sectors. Immunohistochemical analysis suggested that lysosomal enzymes of CA1 were localized mainly in the neuropil and not in the neuronal cell bodies, while the enzymes of CA2–4 sectors were located within the neurons and associated with the perinuclear lysosomal granules. Thus, it was concluded that distributional differences of cathepsins B and L after transient ischemia could be related to selective CA1 neuronal death in the hippocampus.     

In vivo and in vitro studies on putative interneurones in the rat hippocampus: Possible mediators of feed-forward inhibition

Extracellular and intracellular recordings have been made from non-pyramidal neurones in the rat hippocampus in vivo and in vitro. These cells were situated in the stratum pyramidale but were orthodromically activated with a lower threshold than pyramidal neurones in response to stimulation of the Schaffer collateral/commissural afferents. Cells fired earlier than pyramidal neurones in response to suprathreshold stimulation and, in contrast to pyramidal cells, often fired a burst of action potentials. The non-pyramidal neurones also appeared to be orthodromically activated on stimulating the alveus and fired later than antidromically activated pyramidal cells. A very short action potential duration and the ability to fire at high frequencies in response to long depolarizing current pulses also distinguished these neurons from pyramidal cells. It is suggested that these non-pyramidal cells are interneurones which could mediate an early feed-forward activity onto pyramidal cells such as feed-forward inhibition. They may also be recurrently activated and hence could conceivably mediate a recurrent inhibition.     

Effect of dihydroergotoxine mesylate (Hydergine®) on delayed neuronal death in the gerbil hippocampus

The CA 1 neurons in the gerbil hippocampus exhibiting necrosis with delayed onset following 5 min ischemia were reduced markedly by the systemic administration of dihydroergotoxine mesylate (Hydergine; HYG). Immediately after 5 min of forebrain ischemia, the animals were injected intraperitoneally with HYG. Seven days after ischemia, perfusion-fixed brains were processed by conventional histology. The number of neurons per millimeter in the CA 1 pyramidal cell layer were calculated and they were labelled neuronal density. In the control group, the neuronal density was 66.03 +/- 7.37 (mean +/- SEM), in the vehicle group, it was 11.25 +/- 4.93. The neuronal density in the HYG group was 69.19 +/- 6.49. The difference in the neuronal density between the HYG group and the control group was not statistically significant. These data indicate that HYG protects on the CA 1 neurons, and this suggest that the suppression of adrenoceptors by this drugs may be the main mechanism of action. This morphologic outcome may explain the functional amelioration of mental impairment by HYG.     

Cocultures of GFP+‐granule cells with GFP−‐pyramidal cells and interneurons for the study of mossy fiber neurotransmission with paired recordings

Synaptic transmission of the granule cells (GCs) via their axons, the mossy fibers (MFs), is traditionally studied on acutely prepared or cultured slices. Usually, extracellular, bulk or minimal stimulation is used to evoke transmitter release from MF terminals, while recording from their postsynaptic target cells, the pyramidal cells and interneurons of CA3. However, the ideal method to assess MF neurotransmission, the simultaneous recording of a presynaptic GC and one of its target cells, is extremely difficult to achieve using slices. Alternatively, cultures of GCs establishing autapses have been developed, but in these, GCs do not contact their natural targets. We developed cocultures of GCs, dissociated from transgenic GFP⁺ rats, with pyramidal cells and interneurons of CA3, dissociated from wild‐type rats, and confirmed the expression of cell‐specific markers by immunofluorescence. We conducted recordings of GFP⁺‐GCs synaptically connected with their GFP^?‐target cells, and demonstrate that synaptic transmission and its plasticity have the signature of transmission of MF. Besides being strongly depressed by activation of mGluRs, high frequency activation of GC‐to‐pyramidal cells synapses undergo LTP, while GC‐to‐interneuron synapses undergo LTD. This coculture method allows a high reproducibility of recording connected pairs of identified cells, constituting a valuable tool to study MF transmission, as well as different combinations of identifiable pre‐ and postsynaptic cells. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Long-term Potentiation and Field EPSPs in the Lateral and Medial Perforant Paths in the Dentate Gyrus In Vitro: a Comparison

The entorhinal cortex projects monosynaptically to the granule cells in the dentate gyrus via the lateral and medial perforant paths. These two subdivisions of the perforant path differ with respect to synaptic properties, and recent studies suggest that they also differ with respect to long-term potentiation (LTP). In the present study, using the in vitro slice preparation of the guinea-pig hippocampus, field excitatory postsynaptic potentials (EPSPs) and LTP in the lateral and medial perforant paths were compared. The two pathways were distinguished on the basis of their different termination in the dendritic layer, their different pharmacology and short-term synaptic facilitation. The field EPSP [obtained in the presence of γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) A and B receptor antagonists] consisted of a non- N -methyl- d -aspartate (NMDA) component with different time characteristics in the two pathways, the decay being monoexponential in the lateral perforant path and biexponential in the medial one. In addition, the field EPSP in both pathways contained a small NMDA-mediated component that could also be observed after complete blockade of the non-NMDA one. LTP induction in both lateral and medial perforant paths was facilitated by blockade of GABA_A inhibition, showed associative properties, and was blocked by NMDA receptor antagonists. Following the induction event, LTP in both pathways developed to a peak value within 30–40 s, and the stability of LTP was correlated with the amount of postsynaptic, but not presynaptic, activity during the induction event. During blockade of GABA_A inhibition the opioid receptor antagonist naloxone and the β-adrenergic antagonist timolol had no effect on the magnitude or stability of LTP. It is concluded that LTP in the lateral and medial perforant paths does not differ with respect to induction mechanisms and early temporal characteristics.     

Synapsin-like Molecules in Aplysia punctata and Helix pomatia: Identification and Distribution in the Nervous System and During the Formation of Synaptic Contacts In Vitro

The distribution and biochemical features of the synapsin-like peptides recognized in Aplysia and Helix by various antibodies directed against mammalian synapsins were studied. The peptides can be extracted at low pH and are digested by collagenase; further, they can be phosphorylated by both protein kinase A and Ca²⁺/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II. In the ganglia of both snails, they are associated with the soma of most neurons and with the neuropil; punctate immunostaining is present along the neurites. Using cocultures of a Helix serotoninergic neuron and of its target cell, we analysed the redistribution of the synapsin-like peptides during the formation of active synaptic contacts. When the presynaptic neuron is plated in isolation, both synapsin and serotonin immunoreactivities are restricted to the distal axonal segments and to the growth cones; in the presence of the target, the formation of a chemical connection is accompanied by redistribution of the synapsin and serotonin immunoreactivities that concentrate in highly fluorescent round spots scattered along the newly grown neurites located close to the target cell. Almost every spot that is stained for serotonin is also positive for synapsin. In the presynaptic cell plated alone, the number of these varicosity-like structures is substantially stable throughout the whole period; by contrast, when the presynaptic cell synapses the target, their number increases progressively parallel to the increase in the mean amplitude of cumulative excitatory postsynaptic potentials recorded at the same times. The data indicate that mollusc synapsin-like peptides to some extent resemble their mammalian homologues, although they are not exclusively localized in nerve terminals and their expression strongly correlates with the formation of active synaptic contacts.     

Stratum oriens stimulation-evoked modulation of hippocampal long-term potentiation involves the activation of muscarinic acetylcholine receptors and the inhibition of Kv7/M potassium ion channels

Acetylcholine is considered to be an endogenous modulator of hippocampal neurotransmission and synaptic plasticity. The activation of muscarinic acetylcholine receptors (mAChRs) reportedly enhances hippocampal synaptic plasticity, which plays an important role in memory function; however, the mechanism by which it enhances synaptic plasticity remains unclear. Here, we examined the involvement of the inhibition of Kv7/M K(+) channels, which are targets of mAChR modulation, during mAChR activation-induced enhancement of long-term potentiation (LTP) at rat hippocampal Schaffer collateral (SC)-CA1 synapses. When an electrical stimulus was applied to the stratum oriens before tetanic stimulation of the SCs, the magnitude of the induced SC-CA1 synapse LTP was enhanced as compared with that induced without stratum oriens stimulation. In the presence of the mAChR antagonist atropine, tetanic stimulation induced stable LTP, but the stratum oriens stimulation-evoked enhancement of LTP was abolished. The additional application of XE991, a selective blocker of Kv7/M K(+) channels, rescued the atropine-induced inhibition of LTP enhancement. The phospholipase C (PLC) inhibitor U-73122 inhibited the stratum oriens stimulation-evoked enhancement of LTP. Application of the T/R-type voltage-dependent Ca(2+) channel (VDCC) blocker Ni(2+) abolished the stratum oriens stimulation-evoked enhancement of LTP. In addition, tetanic stimulation with preceding stratum oriens stimulation was able to induce LTP during N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor blockade. We therefore propose that stratum oriens stimulation inhibits Kv7/M K(+) channels through mAChR activation-induced PLC activation, which leads to VDCC activation, and hence causes sufficient Ca(2+) influx to enhance LTP.     

Interneurons in the Hippocampal Dentate Gyrus: an In Vivo intracellular Study

Interneurons in the dentate area were characterized physiologically and filled with biocytin in urethane-anaesthetized rats. On the basis of axonal targets the following groups could be distinguished. (i) Large multipolar interneurons with spiny dendrites in the deep hilar region densely innervated the outer molecular layer and contacted both granule cells and parvalbumin-positive neurons (hilar interneuron with perforant pathway-associated axon terminals; HIPP cells). (ii) A pyramidal-shaped neuron with a cell body located in the subgranular layer innervated mostly the inner molecular layer and the granule cell layer (hilar interneuron with commissural-associational pathway-associated axon terminals; HICAP cell). It contacted both granule cells and interneurons. Axon collaterals of HIPP and HICAP neurons covered virtually the entire Septo-temporal extent of the dorsal dentate gyrus. (iii) Calbindin-immunoreactive neurons with horizontal dendrites in stratum oriens of the CA3c region gave rise to a rich axon arbor in strata oriens, pyramidale and radiatum and innervated almost the entire extent of the dorsal hippocampus, with some collaterals entering the subicular area (putative trilaminar cell). (iv) Hilar basket cells innervated mostly the granule cell layer and to some extent the inner molecular layer and the CA3c pyramidal layer. HIPP and trilaminar interneurons could be antidromically activated by stimulation of the fimbria. Only the HICAP cells could be monosynaptically discharged by the perforant path input. All interneurons examined showed phase-locked activity to the extracellularly recorded theta/gamma oscillations or to irregular dentate electroencephalogram spikes. These observations indicate that the interconnected interneuronal system plays a critical role in coordinating population activity of the dentate gyrus and Ammon's horn.     

Prolonged expression of zinc finger immediate-early gene mRNAs and decreased protein synthesis following kainic acid induced seizures

In the present study in situ hybridization was used to study the effect of kainic acid induced seizures on the expression of the zinc finger immediate-early genes (IEGs) NGFI-A, NGFI-B, NGFI-C, egr-2, egr-3 and Nurr1. Kainic acid markedly induced these IEGs especially in hippocampus, cortex and amygdala by 30 min. This induction gradually decreased and returned to baseline by 24 h in most regions. However, in the CA1 and CA3 subfields of hippocampus known to be damaged by kainic acid the expression of all the IEGs except egr-2 remained elevated for 24 h. NGFI-A, NGFI-B, NGFI-C and to a lesser extent, Nurr1, remained elevated also in the subcortical region of the temporal lobe. By 24 h incorporation of ¹⁴C-leucine decreased in the piriform cortex, amygdala, and in the CA1 and CA3 subfields, but not in CA2 and dentate gyrus. These areas showing decreased protein synthesis in the hippocampus by 24 h showed prolonged IEG induction, whereas IEG expression returned to control levels in areas showing normal protein synthesis. In the temporal lobe decreased protein synthesis coexisted with decreased IEG expression, whereas areas in the vicinity of the region showing decreased protein synthesis demonstrated elevated IEG expression. The decreased protein synthesis was localized in areas where extensive neuronal death has occurred. This prolonged IEG induction in the hippocampus, which has been linked with neuronal death, could solely represent a prolonged mRNA turnover caused by disrupted protein synthesis. The prolonged IEG expression in the temporal lobe appeared to be localized in regions where the cells are in stress, but still viable. The sustained IEG expression might therefore either represent a stress response by which the neurons are trying to protect themselves or, alternatively, the IEG response may be an early sign indicating that these cells are initiating a pathway leading to programmed cell death.