Tonic-clonic seizures induce division of neuronal progenitor cells with concomitant changes in expression of neurotrophic factors in the brain of pilocarpine-treated mice.

Epileptic seizures cause severe and long-lasting events on the architecture of the brain, including neuronal cell death, accompanied neurogenesis, reactive gliosis, and mossy fiber sprouting. However, it remains uncertain whether these functional and anatomical alterations are associated with the development of hyperexcitability, or as inhibitory processes. Neurotrophic factors are probable mediators of these pathophysiological events.

Role of histaminergic neurons in development of epileptic seizures in EL mice.

The EL mouse is an animal model for hereditary temporal lobe epilepsy. When the mice receive weekly vestibular stimulation, e.g.

Increased expression of mitochondrial respiratory enzymes in the brain of epilepsy-prone, naive EL mice.

The present studies demonstrate that expression of both type 5 and type 6 subunits of NADH dehydrogenase and the type 1 subunit of cytochrome oxidase is enhanced significantly in the brains of naive, epilepsy-prone EL mice. In contrast, no apparent change in expression occurred with type 1 and type 2 subunits of NADH dehydrogenase. When expression of type 5 and 6 subunits of NADH dehydrogenase was determined at 24 h after a single series of vestibular stimulation, significant down-regulation was detected.