Increased expression of GAP43 in interneurons in a rat model of experimental polymicrogyria.

Abstract

To investigate seizure susceptibility in polymicrogyria, the seizure threshold and growth-associated protein GAP43 expression were analyzed in a rat experimental model of polymicrogyria induced by intracerebral injection of ibotenate. A total of 72 neonates from 9 pregnant rats were used. Intraperitoneal pentylenetetrazole injection did not induce any seizure activity in the control rats, although it elicited seizures of variable severity in the polymicrogyria rats. Fluoro-Jade B-positive degenerating interneurons were found in the polymicrogyria brains; however, no such neurons were detected in the control brains. In the polymicrogyria rats, the GAP43 expression was significantly and widely distributed in the brain, and the percentage of parvalbumin-positive interneurons in the GAP43-positive cells was significantly higher than that observed in the nonphosphorylated neurofilament-positive pyramidal cells. We conclude that the relatively selective vulnerability of inhibitory interneurons constitutes the basis for the decreased seizure threshold observed in this model of polymicrogyria.

• Authors: Tomoyuki Takano, Katsuyuki Matsui
• Journal: Journal of child neurology (J Child Neurol) Vol. 30 Issue 6 Pg. 716-28 (May 2015) ISSN: 1708-8283 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 25061039 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
• Copyright: © The Author(s) 2014.

Chemical References

• GAP-43 Protein
• Parvalbumins
• Ibotenic Acid
• Pentylenetetrazole

Topics

• Animals
• Animals, Newborn
• Brain (drug effects, metabolism)
• Disease Models, Animal
• Female
• GAP-43 Protein (metabolism)
• Ibotenic Acid (toxicity)
• Interneurons (drug effects, metabolism)
• Male
• Parvalbumins (metabolism)
• Pentylenetetrazole (toxicity)
• Polymicrogyria (chemically induced, metabolism, physiopathology)
• Pregnancy
• Pyramidal Cells (drug effects, metabolism)
• Rats
• Seizures (chemically induced)