摘要
Recurrent epileptic seizures can lead to brain edema, indicating that water regulation may be perturbed by seizures. We hypothesized that the expression of the brain water channel aquaporin-4 （AQP-4） may be upregulated in the epileptic brain. In the present study, we established the amygdala kindling model of epilepsy, and quantified AQP-4 protein and mRNA levels, using reverse transcription-PCR, immunohistochemistry and western blotting, in epileptic and control rats. We found that AQP-4 was overexpressed in the cerebral cortex of rats with epilepsy compared with controls. These findings show that AQP-4 is highly expressed in the brain of amygdala-kindled rats, suggesting that repeated seizures affect water homeostasis in the brain.
Recurrent epileptic seizures can lead to brain edema, indicating that water regulation may be perturbed by seizures. We hypothesized that the expression of the brain water channel aquaporin-4 （AQP-4） may be upregulated in the epileptic brain. In the present study, we established the amygdala kindling model of epilepsy, and quantified AQP-4 protein and mRNA levels, using reverse transcription-PCR, immunohistochemistry and western blotting, in epileptic and control rats. We found that AQP-4 was overexpressed in the cerebral cortex of rats with epilepsy compared with controls. These findings show that AQP-4 is highly expressed in the brain of amygdala-kindled rats, suggesting that repeated seizures affect water homeostasis in the brain.
基金
the Natural Science Foundation of Shanghai, No. 09ZR1405500
the Research Projects of Shanghai Municipal Health Bureau, No. 2008-08
