It has been hypothesized that changes in the excitatory amino acid receptor biosynthesis may be involved in the mechanism of kindling—an animal model of epileptogenesis. In order to test this hypothesis, we investigated the effects of pentylenetetrazol kindling on the expression of genes coding for NMDAR1 and GluR2 in the rat hippocampal formation. Pentylenetetrazol kindling decreased the hippocampal NMDAR1 mRNA level after 3 and 24 h; lowered the GluR2 flip level and elevated the flop mRNA one in the CA1 field and dentate gyrus after 3 and 24 h, respectively. A receptor autoradiography showed an increase in the [3H]MK-801 binding density in the hippocampus following both acute and repeated pentylenetetrazol administration. We conclude that an early occurrence of downregulation of the glutamate receptor gene expression may be an adaptive response of glutamate receptors to an oversupply of excitatory amino acids during repeated seizures. 相似文献
1. Kindling is an animal model of epilepsy in which repeated administration of a subconvulsant stimulus, electrical or chemical, produces a gradually increasing electroencephalographic and behavioral response which culminates in a behavioral seizure.
2. The biological basis of the kindling effect remains unknown but alterations in neurotransmission figure prominently in most hypotheses. Several factors of kindling are considered as central to the phenomenon. It is most important to recognize that the development of kindling and a kindled seizure are not necessarily the same phenomenon.
3. Kindling is essentially a permanent change in the sensitivity of the brain to a stimulus. It therefore follows that the biological basis for kindling must be a permanent change. Permanent changes in neurotransmitter levels or receptor parameters have not been conclusively demonstrated in kindling. Other possible permanent changes include changes in Ca activated mechanisms which alter neuronal structures such as dendritic spines.
4. An essential component to the riddle of kindling is the absolute requirement for an inter-stimulus interval of at least 1–2 hours. This suggests that the biological process which leads to kindling occurs in this critical period. Recent experiments with cysteamine suggest that the events in this critical period can be manipulated chemically. An understanding of these events will help to clarify the biological basis of kindling. 相似文献