[Relationship between programmed cell death mechanisms and neuronal necrosis induced by seizures].
OBJECTIVE
To clarify if programmed cell death mechanisms induced by seizures take part in the necrotic process of neurons.


METHODS
Seizure was induced by pilocarpine (P) in Sprague-Dawley adult rats which were allowed to recover for 24 or 72 hours before perfusion-fixation. Neuronal death was assessed by light microscopy with the hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining and with in situ terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick-end labeling (TUNEL). Bax and Bcl-2 protein expression were examined by histochemistry.


RESULTS
Twenty-four and 72 hours after seizures, neuronal death in hippocampus CA1 region was morphologically necrotic. TUNEL-positive and morphologically necrotic cells increased in the hippocampal CA1 region at 72 hours after seizures, there was significant difference compared with controls (P < 0.001). Bax expression was also increased in the hippocampal CA1 region at 72 hours after seizures (P < 0.001), but Bcl-2 expression did not increase, while Bcl-2/Bax ratio decreased.


CONCLUSIONS
Seizures induced late-onset neuronal necrosis was accompanied by programmed cell death mechanisms.
An
Ren-zhe
RZ
Department of Pediatrics, The Hospital Affiliated to The College of Medicine, Yanbian University, Yanji 133000, China.
Yin
Yong-ri
YR
Jin
Chun-ji
CJ
Jin
Zheng
Z
Li
Gen-huan
GH
D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000737:chemistry / Q000473:pathology*; D020287:In Situ Nick-End Labeling; D008297:Male; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins / Q000032:analysis*; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / Q000032:analysis*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012640:Seizures / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000503:physiopathology*; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein
C494828:Bax protein, rat; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein