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Kainate seizures increase nociceptin/orphanin FQ release in the rat hippocampus and thalamus: a microdialysis study.

Abstract
The neuropeptide nociceptin/orphanin FQ (N/OFQ) has been suggested to play a facilitatory role in kainate seizure expression. Furthermore, mRNA levels for the N/OFQ precursor are increased following kainate seizures, while its receptor (NOP) density is decreased. These data suggest increased N/OFQ release. To obtain direct evidence that this is the case, we have developed a microdialysis technique, coupled with a sensitive radioimmunoassay, that allows measurement of N/OFQ release from the hippocampus and thalamus of awake, freely moving animals. In both these brain areas, the spontaneous N/OFQ efflux decreased by approximately 50% and 65% when Ca2+ was omitted and when tetrodotoxin was added to the perfusion medium, respectively. Perfusion of the dialysis probe with high K+ increased N/OFQ release (approximately threefold) in a Ca2+-dependent and tetrodotoxin-sensitive manner. Kainate seizures caused a twofold increase in N/OFQ release followed, within 3 h, by a return to baseline levels. Approximately 5 h after kainate, a late increase in N/OFQ release was observed. On the following day, when animals were having only low grade seizures, N/OFQ release was not significantly different from normal. These phenomena were observed with similar patterns in the hippocampus and in the thalamus. The present data indicate that acute limbic seizures are associated with increased N/OFQ release, which may prime the molecular changes described above, i.e. cause down-regulation of NOP receptors and activation of N/OFQ biosynthesis.
AuthorsLiliana Carmona Aparicio, Sanzio Candeletti, Anna Binaschi, Manuela Mazzuferi, Simona Mantovani, Manuela Di Benedetto, Daniela Landuzzi, Giuseppe Lopetuso, Patrizia Romualdi, Michele Simonato
JournalJournal of neurochemistry (J Neurochem) Vol. 91 Issue 1 Pg. 30-7 (Oct 2004) ISSN: 0022-3042 [Print] England
PMID15379884 (Publication Type: Comparative Study, Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
Chemical References
  • Opioid Peptides
  • Potassium
  • Kainic Acid
Topics
  • Animals
  • Brain Chemistry
  • Electroencephalography (methods)
  • Hippocampus (drug effects, metabolism)
  • Kainic Acid
  • Male
  • Microdialysis (methods)
  • Opioid Peptides (metabolism)
  • Potassium (pharmacology)
  • Radioimmunoassay (methods)
  • Rats
  • Rats, Sprague-Dawley
  • Seizures (chemically induced, metabolism, physiopathology)
  • Statistics, Nonparametric
  • Thalamus (drug effects, metabolism)
  • Time Factors
  • Nociceptin

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