Aim:The aim of this study was to compare neurodegenerative changes, using fluorojade-B staining, following status epilepticus induced by intraamygdaloid injection of kainic acid in Genetic Absence Epileptic Rats from Strasbourg (GAERS) and nonepileptic control Wistar animals. Material and Methods:Adult male GAERS and Wistar rats received a single unilateral intraamygdaloid kainic acid injection (750 ng) to induce status epilepticus. EEG and behavioral changes were recorded throughout the experiments. One week after the kainic acid injection animals were sacrificed and the brains were removed. Sections (20µm) were taken and processed for fluorojade-B and Nissl staining. Staining was evaluated semi-quantitatively.Results:Status epilepticus developed in all animals following kainic acid injections.Motor seizures were significantly delayed in GAERS. The number of motor seizures did not show statistically significant difference. In GAERS, statistically significant differences in fluorojade-B staining were observed in between contralateral and ipsilateral sides of CA3, CA1, somatosensory cortex, entorhinal cortex, piriform cortex, reticular nucleus, putamen, clastrum. In Wistar CA3, CA1, somatosensory cortex, entorhinal cortex, piriform cortex, reticular nucleus, amygdala, laterodorsal nucleus showed significant differences.When we compare GAERS and Wistar rats statistically significant difference was observed in both sides of CA1. The staining was prominent ipsilaterally in both groups except claustrum in the GAERS. Motor cortex was not affected in both groups. Neurodegenerative changes are not associated with the severity of seizures in both groups following intraamygdaloid kainic acid injection. Conclusion:The present study demonstrated that CA1 is the only region showing statistically significant difference between Wistar and GAERS rats.