title: Differential regulation of N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor subunit messenger RNAs in kindling-induced epileptogenesis.
abstract: N-methyl-D-aspartate-receptors are implicated in several neuropathological conditions including epilepsy. As a model of complex partial seizures, rapid hippocampal kindling was chosen to investigate changes in the expression of messenger RNAs encoding the N-methyl-D-aspartate-receptor subunits NR1, NR2A and NR2B both during and in the period immediately following the induction of the kindled state. The study demonstrates a cell-specific, time-dependent modulation of the N-methyl-D-aspartate-receptor subunit messenger RNAs almost entirely restricted to the granule cells of the dentate gyrus. In partially kindled animals (10 stimulations), while the NR1 subunit messenger RNA remained unaltered after a period of 2 h, the NR2A and NR2B subunit messenger RNAs were bilaterally reduced in dentate gyrus granule cells by around 50% below control values. In fully kindled animals (40 stimulations), a progressive reduction in NR1 subunit messenger RNA levels in the dentate gyrus was observed, being maximal after 4 h (-67%). At the same time point, NR2A and NR2B transcript levels were transiently increased by 102% and 46% above control values, respectively. These data point to a differential regulation of N-methyl-D-aspartate-receptor subunit messenger RNAs. No alterations were detected in pyramidal cells. Long-term maintenance of the kindled state was not associated with alterations in N-methyl-D-aspartate-receptor subunit messenger RNAs since control levels of messenger RNA were attained by 12 h and persisted for at least five days. The early changes in messenger RNAs described in this study indicate that the expression of N-methyl-D-aspartate-receptor subunits is under independent regulatory control. This phenomenon may contribute to epileptogenesis and to kindling-associated plasticity by mediating a structural reorganization of N-methyl-D-aspartate-receptors, leading to an altered excitability of dentate gyrus granule cells.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Pharmacology, University of Zurich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: G D
authors.initials: GD
authors.lastname: Pratt
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kokaia
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bengzon
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Kokaia
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Fritschy
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Möhler
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Lindvall
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001345:Autoradiography; D015536:Down-Regulation / Q000502:physiology; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000378:metabolism*; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D007696:Kindling, Neurologic; D008297:Male; D015345:Oligonucleotide Probes; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D016194:Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D015345:Oligonucleotide Probes; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D016194:Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate