缝隙连接蛋白Cx32与Cx43在癫痫发病中的作用

目的:探讨缝隙连接蛋白(Cx)与癫痫之间的关系.方法:采用免疫组织化学方法测定氯化锂-匹罗卡品致痫大鼠癫痫发作后不同时间不同脑区Cx32与Cx43免疫阳性表达情况.结果:与对照组比较,致痫组大鼠海马区与皮层区Cx32和Cx43免疫阳性表达在癫痫发作1h后开始增强(Cx32免疫阳性细胞数分别为海马区16.62±4.51和皮层区14.85±3.30,均P＜0.05；Cx43免疫阳性细胞数分别为海马区18.26±4.03和皮层区18.65±4.51,均P＜0.01),24 h达到高峰(Cx32免疫阳性细胞数分别为海马区46.53±9.47和皮层区28.25±8.69,均P＜0.01;Cx43免疫阳性细胞数分别为海马区39.77±7.79和皮层区26.50±6.56,均P＜0.01),此后逐步下降.但至14 d Cx32海马区与皮层区免疫阳性细胞数分别为22.45±6.56和15.92±3.16,仍高于对照组(均P＜0.05),而Cx43在14 d的表达则有所不同:海马区免疫阳性细胞数17.54±3.77仍高于对照组(P＜0.01)；皮层区表达则降至正常水平.致痫24 h时海马区Cx32和Cx43免疫阳性表达均明显高于同一时限的皮层区(均P＜0.05).结论:Cx32和Cx43参与了癫痫的发生与发展过程,反映了脑组织中神经元、星形胶质细胞之间的缝隙连接与癫痫发病机制密切相关.

The roles of connexin 32 and connexin 43 play in the pathogenesis of epilepsy

Objective To explore the relationship between gap junctions(GJ) formed by connexins(Cx) and epilepsy.Methods The expressions of Cx32 and Cx43 at different time-points in different brain regions were measured by immunohistochemistry in the epileptic rats induced by lithium chloride-pilocarpine.Results As compared to those in control group,the immunopositive expressions of Cx32 and Cx43 in hippocampus and cortex of epileptic rats were increased at 1h after epileptic seizures(Cx32 in hippocampus and cortex were 16.62 ± 4.51 and 14.85 ± 3.30,P < 0.05;Cx43 in hippocampus and cortex were 18.26 ± 4.03 and 18.65 ± 4.51,P < 0.01),reached peak at 24 h(Cx32 in hippocampus and cortex were 46.53 ± 9.47 and 28.25 ± 8.69,P < 0.01;Cx43 in hippocampus and cortex were 39.77 ± 7.79 and 26.50 ± 6.56,P < 0.01),and then were gradually declined.Until 14 d,the expressions of Cx32 in hippocampus and cortex were significantly higher than those in control group(22.45 ± 6.56 and 15.92 ± 3.16,P < 0.05),and the expression of Cx43 in hippocampus was still higher than that in control group(17.54 ± 3.77,P < 0.01),as well as that in cortex was decreased to normal levels.At 24 h,both of the expressions of Cx32 and Cx43 in hippocampus were significantly higher than those in cortex at the same time-point(P < 0.05).Conclusions Cx32 and Cx43 might be involved in the occurrence and development of epilepsy.GJ between neurons or astrocytes in the brain might be closely related to the pathogenesis of epilepsy.