IngentaConnect ERK1/2 activation in reactive astrocytes of mice with pilocarpine...

Authors: Li, Yu-Qin¹; Xue, Tao¹; Xu, Jing¹; Xu, Zu-Cai²; Liu, Hua¹; Chen, Yang-Mei¹

Source: Neurological Research, Volume 31, Number 10, December 2009 , pp. 1108-1114(7)

Abstract:

Objective: To investigate the activation pattern of extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2) in the hippocampus of mice during pilocarpine-induced status epilepticus (SE) and its relationship with reactive astrogliosis.

Methods: Status epilepticus (SE) models were established by intraperitoneal injection of pilocarpine. The intervention group received the ERK1/2 signaling pathway inhibitor SL327 before the pilocarpine injection. We evaluated the SE model group, the intervention group and the control saline-treated group, at 6 hours and 3 days after initiation of the seizure. Phosphorylated activated ERK1/2 and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) were labeled with both single-labeling and sequential single-labeling immunohistochemical techniques.

Results: Among the pilocarpine-treated (SE model) mice, strong immunohistochemical staining of phospho-ERK1/2 was observed in the neurons and astrocytes of the hippocampus at 6 hours after initiation of SE, whereas staining on the third day of SE was not different from the control saline-treated mice. In the SL327-treated mice (intervention group), SL327 effectively blocked the ERK1/2 activation and little gliosis could be detected at 6 hours and 3 days after initiation of SE; the levels of phospho-ERK1/2 remained low, but the level of gliosis was similar to that of SE mice.

Conclusion: The ERK1/2 signaling pathway plays an important role in the early stage of reactive astrogliosis in mice with pilocarpine-induced SE.

Keywords: ERK1/2; HIPPOCAMPAL FORMATION; PILOCARPINE; SEIZURE

Document Type: Research article

DOI: 10.1179/174313209X389839

Affiliations: 1: Department of Neurology, the Second Affiliated Hospital, Chongqing Medical University, Linjiang Road 76, Chongqing 400010, China 2: Department of Neurology, the First Affiliated Hospital, Zunyi Medical College, Zunyi 563003, China

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ERK1/2 activation in reactive astrocytes of mice with pilocarpine-induced status epilepticus