AI Article Synopsis
- A previous episode of epileptic seizures can temporarily protect the brain from damage caused by future seizures, a phenomenon known as 'epileptic tolerance.'
- Researchers used a rat model to induce seizures by injecting kainate, resulting in damage only to one side of the brain.
- After applying a second dose of kainate, neuroprotection was observed in the undamaged side of the brain, allowing for further study of neuroprotection mechanisms and how epilepsy affects brain responses and gene expression.
Article Abstract
Previous insult, for example, sustained epileptic seizures, confers a substantial temporary protection against the cellular damage induced by subsequent epileptic challenge. Here we describe a useful model of this so-called 'epileptic tolerance'. Expression of a status epilepticus was triggered by infusing the excitotoxic agent, kainate, into the right hippocampus of adult rats. An appropriate dose of kainate was used to cause brain damage in the homolateral, but not contralateral, hippocampus. At various times following this preconditioning insult, kainate was then re-administered into the lateral ventricle and neuroprotection was observed in the contralateral side between 1 and 15 days later. This model can be used to investigate the mechanisms of this endogenous neuroprotection. It is also particularly suitable for studying the epileptic susceptibility, as reflected by the modifications of the after-discharge threshold, as well as any changes in gene expression induced associated with the preconditioning episode.
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| http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/s1385-299x(01)00136-2 | DOI Listing |
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