Microglial activation: an important process in the onset of epilepsy.

This study aimed to investigate the effects of microglial activation on the onset of epilepsy. Microglias cultured were stimulated with different concentrations of coriaria lactone (CL), and the effects on cell cycle and apoptosis were examined using flow cytometry. Then microglia were stimulated with 5×10 mol/L CL, and levels of cyclin D1 and interleukin-1β (IL-1β) mRNA were measured by fluorescence quantitative PCR; tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin-1β (IL-1β) in supernatant were detected by radioimmunoassay.

Ciliary neurotrophic factor-treated astrocyte conditioned medium regulates the L-type calcium channel activity in rat cortical neurons.

Astrocytes are activated by ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF) in vivo and in vitro, however, the consequences on the L-type calcium channel (LCC) of neurons are still poorly understood. Therefore, in the present study, whole-cell patch clamp, western-blot and RT-PCR assay were performed to evaluate the effects of CNTF-treated astrocyte conditioned medium (CNTF-ACM) on LCC current (I(Ca)-L) and the expression of Cav1.2 and Cav1.

Effects of activated ACM on expression of signal transducers in cerebral cortical neurons of rats.

To explore the roles of astrocytes in the epileptogenesis, astrocytes and neurons were isolated, purified and cultured in vitro from cerebral cortex of rats. The astrocytes were activated by ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF) and astrocytic conditioned medium (ACM) was collected to treat neurons for 4, 8 and 12 h. By using Western blot, the expression of calmodulin dependent protein kinase II (CaMK II), inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and adenylate cyclase (AC) was detected in neurons.

Effect of coriaria lactone-activated astrocyte-conditioned medium on the cerebral TNF-alpha of normal rats.

To explore the effect of coriaria lactone (CL)-activated astrocyte-conditioned medium on the cerebral TNF-alpha of normal rats, the CL-activated astrocyte-conditioned medium (ACM) was injected into the lateral ventricle of SD rats. The rats were observed for behavioral changes, and the changes of the expression of TNF-alpha in the cerebral cortex and hippocampus were immunohistochemically examined by employing SP method. TNF-alpha level was assessed by means of radioimmunoassay in homogenate of cerebral cortex and hippocampus as well as cerebrospinal fluid.

Effects of chloroquine on GFAP, PCNA and cyclin D1 in hippocampus and cerebral cortex of rats with seizures induced by pentylenetetrazole.

The effects of chloroquine on glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), proliferation cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) and Cyclin D1 in hippocampus and cerebral cortex of rats with seizures induced by pentylenetetrazole (PTZ) were observed in the present study. Forty-eight male adult Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were randomly divided into control group, chloroquine intervening group, and PTZ group. The behavior and electroencephalogram (EEG) were observed and recorded.

Screening for glutamate-induced and dexamethasone-downregulated epilepsy-related genes in rats by mRNA differential display.

Background: It is known that excessive release of glutamate can induce excitotoxicity in neurons and lead to seizure. Dexamethasone has anti-seizure function. The aim of this study was to investigate glutamate-dexamethasone interaction in the pathogenesis of epilepsy, identify differentially expressed genes in the hippocampus of glutamate-induced epileptic rats by mRNA differential display, and observe the effects of dexamethasone on these genes expression.

Changes in behavior and amino acid neurotransmitters in the brain of rats with seizure induced by IL-1beta or IL-6.

To explore the mechanism of epilepsy induced by IL-1beta and IL-6, the changes of glutamic acid (Glu) and GABA immunoreaction in the cerebral cortex and hippocampus of rats with seizure induced by IL-1beta or IL-6 were studied. Rats were randomly divided into 3 groups: control group (intracerebroventricular injection (icv) of NS), IL-1beta group (icv injection of IL-1beta) and IL-6 group (i. c.

Effect of interleukin-1beta on the variation of adenylyl cyclase expression in rats with seizures induced by L-glutamate.

To explore the mechanism of interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta) in the onset of seizure and the effect of IL-1beta on the expression of adenylyl cyclase (AC) in rats with seizure induced by L-glutamate. Experimental rats were first injected with IL-1beta and then L-glutamate (a dose under the threshold) was injected into the right lateral ventricle. The rats were sacrificed 4 h after the onset of epileptic activity and examined for changes in behavior, immunohistochemistry and compared with those with seizure induced by L-glutamate alone.