title: [Effect of serotonin depletion on seizures learning-memory in pilocarpine-induced epileptic rats].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the relationship between serotonin (5-HT) and epilepsy and the mechanism of learning-memory in pilocarpine (PILO)-induced epileptic rats after 5,7-dihydroxytryptamine (5,7-DHT) microinjection in median raphe nucleus.
  
  
  METHODS
  Adult S D rats were randomly divided into 3 groups: PILO group, PILO+ 5,7-DHT group, vehicle control group; PILO group was divided into two groups by status epilepticus (SE): PILO + SE group and PILO - SE group. The rats' seizures and cortex electroencephalography (EEG) were observed by video EEG. The rats' spatial learning-memory was evaluated by Morris water maze. Finally, serotonergic neuron in raphe nuclei was observed by immunohistochemistry.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After treatment of 5,7-DHT (PILO + 5,7-DHT group), the success rate, the mortality and the frequency of chronic spontaneous seizures in pilocarpine-induced epilepsy model were all improved. Compared with the control group, the number of serotonergic neuron in raphe nuclei was decrease in PILO + SE group (P < 0.05). Moreover, it's extremely decrease in PILO + 5,7-DHT group (P < 0.01). Compared with control group, the mean escape latency was prolonged, the times of crossing target was decreased and the retention time in target zone was shortened in PILO + SE group (P < 0.05), but there was no significant difference between PILO + SE group and PILO + 5,7-DHT group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Depletion of serotonin may facility the rats' epileptic seizures, but we could not interpret which may cause epileptic rats' cognitive deficit.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Union Hospital, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China.
authors.forename: Xiao-chai
authors.initials: XC
authors.lastname: Lv
authors.forename: Hua-pin
authors.initials: HP
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Wan-hui
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Sheng-gen
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D015116:5,7-Dihydroxytryptamine / Q000633:toxicity*; D000818:Animals; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000378:metabolism / Q000523:psychology*; D008297:Male; D018782:Maze Learning; D008568:Memory; D010862:Pilocarpine / Q000009:adverse effects; D011903:Raphe Nuclei; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012701:Serotonin / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D010862:Pilocarpine; D015116:5,7-Dihydroxytryptamine; D012701:Serotonin