title: Expression of the proto-oncogene bcl-2 is increased in the rat brain following kainate-induced seizures.
abstract: The proto-oncogene bcl-2 is an important suppressor of apoptotic cell death in development and of both apoptotic and necrotic cell death in mature neurons. We studied expression of bcl-2 and the related gene, bax, which may promote cell death, after seizures induced by systemic kainate injection in rats. Expression of bcl-2 mRNA was studied by in situ hybridization. Bax and bcl-2 protein expression was studied by immunocytochemistry. Histologic analysis of cresyl violet-stained paraffin sections was performed at 72 h. bcl-2 protein was expressed in CA1 neurons, a region that is injured, yet survives after seizures. Bcl-2 mRNA was expressed in CA3, a region where there is extensive neuronal death at 72 h, but the bcl-2 protein was not translated. However, bax protein expression in CA3 was increased at 24 h. These results support a possible role for bcl-2 in promoting survival of CA3 after seizures.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, University of Pittsburgh, 325 Scaife Hall, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA Neurology Service (127), Pittsburgh (University Drive), Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
authors.forename: S H
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Graham
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Stetler
authors.forename: R L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.forename: K L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Jin
authors.forename: R P
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Simon