Mapping patterns of c-fos expression in the central nervous system after seizure.
A dramatic and specific induction of c-fos was observed in identifiable neuronal populations in vivo after administration of the convulsant Metrazole. This effect was time- and dose-dependent and was abolished by prior treatment with the anticonvulsant drugs diazepam or pentobarbital. About 60 minutes after administration of Metrazole, c-fos messenger RNA reached a maximum and declined to basal levels after 180 minutes. A further decrease below that in normal brain was observed before a return to basal levels after 16 hours. While Metrazole still elicited seizures during this period, reinduction of c-fos was largely refractory. At 90 minutes, c-fos protein was observed in the nuclei of neurons in the dentate gyrus, and in the pyriform and cingulate cortices. Subsequently, c-fos protein appeared throughout the cortex, hippocampus, and limbic system. Thus, seizure activity results in increased c-fos gene expression in particular subsets of neurons.
D000818:Animals; D001923:Brain Chemistry / Q000187:drug effects; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D003975:Diazepam / Q000494:pharmacology; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D009474:Neurons / Q000378:metabolism; D010424:Pentobarbital / Q000494:pharmacology; D010433:Pentylenetetrazole / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000633:toxicity; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D016760:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fos; D011963:Receptors, GABA-A / Q000187:drug effects; D012640:Seizures / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000378:metabolism*
D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D016760:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fos; D011963:Receptors, GABA-A; D010424:Pentobarbital; D003975:Diazepam; D010433:Pentylenetetrazole