Hyperthermia-induced seizures alter the levels of methionine-enkephalin in immature rat brain.
The effects of hyperthermia induced seizures on the amount of Methionine-enkephalin (Met-E) in 15 day rat pups were examined. Animals exposed to an ambient temperature of 40 degrees C showed a gradual increase in body temperature reaching a maximum of 40.6 +/- 0.2 degrees C; at this time all of the animals had seizures. Elevated brain Met-E concentration was observed immediately after seizures. When the animals were exposed for 30 min to 27 degrees C environment maintained their normal body temperature throughout the experiments and no seizures were observed. The brain Met-E levels in this group were significantly lower than those observed in the animals exposed to 40 degrees C environment. These experiments suggest that enkephalinergic system may play a role in hyperthermia-induced seizures in the rat pups.
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Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, University School of Medicine, Murcia, Spain.
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D000818:Animals; D001831:Body Temperature; D001921:Brain / Q000254:growth & development*; D001923:Brain Chemistry; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004744:Enkephalin, Methionine / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006358:Hot Temperature / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D012640:Seizures / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism*; D003294:Seizures, Febrile / Q000378:metabolism
D004744:Enkephalin, Methionine