Astrocytic proliferation in the piriform cortex of amygdala-kindled subjects: a quantitative study in partial versus fully kindled brains.
Complex partial epilepsy is a seizure disorder in which attacks frequently arise from foci located in the temporal lobes. The amygdala-kindling model is a widely used model of complex partial epilepsy with secondary generalization. The present study was designed to quantitatively assess astrocytic changes in the rat piriform cortex in the amygdala-kindling model of epilepsy. Bromodeoxyuridine-injected subjects were sacrificed 24 h after the first stage 1 or fifth stage 5 seizure. Brain sections were prepared and examined quantitatively. A significantly higher number of dividing astrocytes (identified by co-labeling with antibodies to bromodeoxyuridine and to one of the astrocytic intermediate filament proteins glial fibrillary acidic protein or vimentin) was found in both partially kindled (stage 1) and fully kindled (stage 5) brains. The partially kindled brains had a significantly higher number of double-labeled cells on the side ipsilateral to stimulation. The opposite trend was observed in the fully kindled brains. Differences between the ipsilateral and contralateral sides of the kindled brain may suggest different role(s) for astrocytes in the development and progression of the seizure-prone state.
Vessal
Mani
M
Institute of Medical Science, Medical Science Building, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5S 1A8. mvessal@cmexchange.stanford.edu
Dugani
Chandrasagar B
CB
Solomon
Dianand A
DA
Burnham
W McIntyre
WM
Ivy
Gwen O
GO
D000679:Amygdala / Q000503:physiopathology*; D000818:Animals; D001253:Astrocytes / Q000502:physiology*; D001973:Bromodeoxyuridine / Q000378:metabolism; D002452:Cell Count / Q000379:methods; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000166:cytology*; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004566:Electrodes; D004828:Epilepsies, Partial / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology*; D005904:Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D007150:Immunohistochemistry / Q000379:methods; D007696:Kindling, Neurologic / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D009687:Nuclear Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D020318:Rats, Long-Evans; D014746:Vimentin / Q000378:metabolism
D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D005904:Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein; C489488:Kin protein, rat; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D014746:Vimentin; D001973:Bromodeoxyuridine