title: Induction of immediate early gene encoded proteins in the rat hippocampus after bicuculline-induced seizures: differential expression of KROX-24, FOS and JUN proteins.
abstract: Immunocytochemistry with specific antisera was used to assess regional levels of six immediate early gene encoded proteins (KROX-24, c-FOS, FOS B, c-JUN, JUN B and JUN D) in the rat hippocampus after 15 min of bicuculline-induced seizures. Serial sections of the dorsal hippocampus were examined at various postictal recovery periods up to 24 h. The results demonstrate a complex temporal and spatial pattern of immediate early gene synthesis and accumulation. Three major categories of immediate early gene products could best be distinguished in the dentate gyrus: KROX-24 and c-FOS showed a concurrent rapid rise with peak levels at 2 h and a return to baseline levels within 8 h after seizure termination. FOS B, c-JUN and JUN B levels increased more gradually with peak intensities in the dentate gyrus reached at 4 h. These immediate early gene products showed above normal levels in various hippocampal subpopulations up to 24 h. JUN D exhibited the most delayed onset combined with a prolonged increase of seizure-induced immunoreactivity. Irrespective of this differential temporal expression profile of individual transcription factors, the sequence of induction in the hippocampal subpopulations was identical for all immediate early gene-encoded proteins examined: first in the dentate gyrus granule cells followed by CA1 and CA3 neurons, respectively. Our data indicate an asynchronous synthesis of several immediate early gene-encoded proteins in the brain after status epilepticus. FOS and JUN proteins act via homo- or heterodimer complexes at the AP-1 and other DNA binding sites. The different time-courses for individual immediate early gene products strongly suggest, that at different time-points after status epilepticus, different AP-1 complexes are effective. In vitro studies have shown that different AP-1 complexes possess different DNA binding affinities as well as different transcriptional regulatory effects. Our results suggest that these molecular mechanisms are also effective in vivo.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Neuropathology, University of Heidelberg, Germany.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Gass
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Herdegen
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bravo
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kiessling
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001640:Bicuculline / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics*; D051766:Early Growth Response Protein 1; D005260:Female; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000502:physiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D017874:Immediate-Early Proteins; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D009928:Organ Specificity; D016760:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fos / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics*; D016755:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-jun / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics*; D011519:Proto-Oncogenes / Q000187:drug effects; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D012640:Seizures / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000503:physiopathology*; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics*; D016335:Zinc Fingers / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D051766:Early Growth Response Protein 1; C486110:Egr1 protein, rat; D017874:Immediate-Early Proteins; D016760:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fos; D016755:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-jun; D014157:Transcription Factors; D001640:Bicuculline