Changes of immunoreactive neuropeptide Y, somatostatin and corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) in the brain of a novel epileptic mutant rat, Ihara's genetically epileptic rat (IGER).
Ihara's genetically epileptic rat (IGER) is a rat mutant with genetically scheduled spontaneous convulsions mimicking human limbic seizures. In the present study, the possible changes of three neuropeptides, neuropeptide Y (NPY), somatostatin (SRIF) and corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF), in the brains of IGER were investigated. Increased contents of immunoreactive (IR) NPY were found only in the hippocampus of 2-month IGERs before developing convulsive seizures, while similar increases of IR-NPY were discovered in the striatum and pyriform and entorhinal cortex as well as hippocampus in 8-month IGERs with repetitive seizures. There were no significant differences in the brain contents of IR-SRIF and IR-CRF between IGERs and the controls at both ages. These findings indicate an enhanced rate of NPY synthesis in this experimental model of epilepsy which may play a critical role in the development of epileptogenesis.
Takahashi
Y
Y
Department of Psychiatry, Shiga University of Medical Science, Otsu, Japan. ytaka@belle.shiga-med.ac.jp
Sadamatsu
M
M
Kanai
H
H
Masui
A
A
Amano
S
S
Ihara
N
N
Kato
N
N
D000818:Animals; D000918:Antibody Specificity; D001923:Brain Chemistry; D003346:Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D009478:Neuropeptide Y / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D011922:Rats, Mutant Strains; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013004:Somatostatin / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*
D009478:Neuropeptide Y; D013004:Somatostatin; D003346:Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone