[Malnutrition increases hippocampal neurogenesis in the immature rat after status epilepticus].
OBJECTIVE
Neurogenesis in the dentate gyrus of hippocampus persists in brain of the immature and adult mammalian including human and it can be regulated by physiological and pathological events including nutritional status and seizures. The present study was designed to investigate the potential effects of malnutrition followed by status epileptics on hippocampal neurogenesis in the immature rat.


METHODS
Rat pups were divided into 4 groups: malnourished (M), nourished (N), malnourished plus seizures (MS) and nourished plus seizures (NS). The rat pups of group M and group MS were maintained on a starvation regimen from postnatal day 2 (P2) to P18. The status epilepticus of the rat pups in group MS and group NS was elicited by unilateral microinfusion of kainic acid (KA) into the amygdula at P15. Rat pups of the 4 groups were given bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) intraperitoneally twice daily for 2 days beginning at P17. At P19, the rat pups were killed and the brains were processed for BrdU mitotic labeling combined with double-label immunohistochemistry using early neuron- or glia-specific markers TuJ1 (beta III tubulin) or GFAP (glial fibrillary acidic protein).


RESULTS
There were no significant differences in the latent time of seizure between group M and group N [(12.4 +/- 2.6) min vs. (12.1 +/- 2.9) min, P < 0.05]. Histological assessment did not reveal any evidence of hippocampal cell loss after status epilepticus in either group. BrdU-labeled cells were significantly higher in the rats of group MS (374 +/- 18) than group M (303 +/- 20), group NS (312 +/- 24) than group N (269 +/- 18), respectively (P < 0.01). There was also significant difference between group M and group N, group MS and group NS, respectively (P < 0.01). No significant difference was seen between the rats of group NS and group M (P > 0.05). Approximately 60% of BrdU-labeled cells coexpressed TuJ1, and 5% approximately 10% of those co-expressed GFAP.


CONCLUSIONS
Early malnutrition do not alter KA seizure susceptibility and the behavioral manifestations of seizures at P15. Although malnutrition and status epilepticus can increase the proliferation of newly developed cells in the immature rat respectively, malnutrition followed by status epilepticus further increases this proliferation. Furthermore, most of newly developed cells differentiate into early neurons.
Wang
Yan-ling
YL
Department of Pediatrics, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan 250012, China.
Sun
Ruo-peng
RP
Lei
Ge-fei
GF
Li
Bao-min
BM
Wang
Ji-wen
JW
D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D001835:Body Weight; D001973:Bromodeoxyuridine / Q000378:metabolism; D005904:Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein / Q000032:analysis; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000737:chemistry / Q000473:pathology*; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D044342:Malnutrition / Q000473:pathology*; D009474:Neurons / Q000737:chemistry / Q000473:pathology*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013226:Status Epilepticus / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000473:pathology*; D014404:Tubulin / Q000032:analysis
D005904:Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein; D014404:Tubulin; D001973:Bromodeoxyuridine