title: p75 neurotrophin receptor expression is induced in apoptotic neurons after seizure.
abstract: Seizure causes neuronal cell loss in both animal models and human epilepsy. To determine the contribution of apoptotic mechanisms to seizure-induced neuronal cell death, rat brains were examined for the occurrence of terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated UTP nick end labeling (TUNEL)-positive nuclei after pilocarpine-induced seizure. Numerous TUNEL-positive cells were observed throughout the postseizure hippocampus, piriform cortex, and entorhinal cortex. Combined TUNEL/NeuN immunocytochemistry demonstrated that the vast majority of TUNEL-positive cells were neurons. To identify components of the signal transduction cascade promoting postseizure apoptosis, the expression of the p75 neurotrophin receptor (p75NTR) was examined. Seizure-induced increases in p75NTR protein and mRNA were detected in hippocampus, piriform cortex, and entorhinal cortex. Immunohistochemical double labeling revealed almost complete correspondence between TUNEL-positive and p75NTR-expressing cells, suggesting that seizure-induced neuronal loss within the CNS occurs through apoptotic signaling cascades involving p75NTR.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Neuronal Survival, Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada H3A 2B4.
authors.forename: P P
authors.initials: PP
authors.lastname: Roux
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Colicos
authors.forename: P A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Barker
authors.forename: T E
authors.initials: TE
authors.lastname: Kennedy
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000502:physiology*; D018728:Entorhinal Cortex / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D020287:In Situ Nick-End Labeling; D008297:Male; D009474:Neurons / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D009833:Olfactory Pathways / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D010862:Pilocarpine / Q000633:toxicity*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D020800:Receptor, Nerve Growth Factor; D017475:Receptors, Nerve Growth Factor / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D012640:Seizures / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D012333:RNA, Messenger; D020800:Receptor, Nerve Growth Factor; D017475:Receptors, Nerve Growth Factor; D010862:Pilocarpine