title: Effects of a subconvulsive dose of kainic acid on the gene expressions of the arginine vasopressin, oxytocin and neuronal nitric oxide synthase in the rat hypothalamus.
abstract: Arginine vasopressin (AVP) synthesis in the hypothalamo-neurohypophysial system (HNS) is up-regulated by kainic acid (KA)-induced seizure in rats. However, it remains unknown whether a subconvulsive dose of KA affects the HNS. Here we examined the effects of subcutaneous (s.c.) administration of a low dose of KA (4 mg/kg) on the gene expressions of the AVP, oxytocin (OXT) and neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) in the supraoptic (SON) and paraventricular nuclei (PVN) of the rat hypothalamus, using in situ hybridization histochemistry. The expression of the AVP gene in the SON and PVN was judged to be up-regulated in KA-treated rats in comparison with saline-treated rats as controls. Next, the expression of the OXT gene was significantly increased in the SON at 6-24h and in the PVN at 6 and 12h after s.c. administration of KA. Finally, the expression of the nNOS gene was significantly increased in the SON and PVN at 3 and 6h after s.c. administration of KA. These results suggest that up-regulation of the gene expressions of the AVP, OXT and nNOS in the rat hypothalamus may be differentially affected by peripheral administration of a subconvulsive dose of KA.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology and School of Medicine, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Kitakyushu 807-8555, Japan.
authors.forename: Mitsuhiro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yoshimura
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology and School of Medicine, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Kitakyushu 807-8555, Japan; Department of Otorhinolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, School of Medicine, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Kitakyushu 807-8555, Japan.
authors.forename: Jun-ichi
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ohkubo
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology and School of Medicine, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Kitakyushu 807-8555, Japan.
authors.forename: Hirofumi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hashimoto
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology and School of Medicine, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Kitakyushu 807-8555, Japan.
authors.forename: Takanori
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Matsuura
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology and School of Medicine, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Kitakyushu 807-8555, Japan.
authors.forename: Takashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Maruyama
authors.affiliation: Division of Brain and Neurophysiology, Department of Physiology, Jichi Medical University, Shimotsuke 329-0498, Japan.
authors.forename: Tatsushi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Onaka
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, School of Medicine, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Kitakyushu 807-8555, Japan.
authors.forename: Hideaki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Suzuki
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology and School of Medicine, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Kitakyushu 807-8555, Japan. Electronic address: yoichi@med.uoeh-u.ac.jp.
authors.forename: Yoichi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ueta
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001127:Arginine Vasopressin / Q000187:drug effects*; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000502:physiology; D007031:Hypothalamus / Q000187:drug effects*; D017403:In Situ Hybridization / Q000379:methods; D007608:Kainic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D010121:Oxytocin / Q000378:metabolism*; D010286:Paraventricular Hypothalamic Nucleus / Q000187:drug effects*; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D015854:Up-Regulation
chemical_list: D001127:Arginine Vasopressin; D010121:Oxytocin; D007608:Kainic Acid
keywords: Arginine vasopressin; Hypothalamus; Kainic acid; Neuronal nitric oxide synthase; Oxytocin; Rat