Turkish Neurosurgery 2016 , Vol 26 , Num 5
Analysis of the Expressions of TrkB and GLT-1 in Brain Tissues on a Rat Pentylenetetrazol Kindling Model of Chronic Epilepsy
Jinping LIU1,2, Yi ZENG1, Chao YOU2, Zhong YANG3
1Sichuan Provincial People’s Hospital, Department of Neurosurgery, First Ring Road, Chengdu, Sichuan, 610072, China
2Sichuan University, West China Hospital, Department of Neurosurgery, Chengdu, Sichuan, 610041, China
3The Third Military Medical University, Department of Neurobiology, Shapingba District, Chongqing, 400038, China
DOI : 10.5137/1019-5149.JTN.13533-14.1 AIM: Tyrosine kinase receptor-B (TrkB), a high-affinity receptor for brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), functions via specific binding with the BDNF. Although studies have shown that BDNF promotes the expression of glutamate transporter-1 (GLT-1) in the glial cells during neurodegeneration, evidence is lacking regarding whether BDNF/TrkB pathway is associated with the abnormal function of GLT-1.The aim of this study is to analyze the expressions of TrkB and GLT-1 in the brain of pentylenetetrazol (PTZ) kindling model of chronic epilepsy in rats, and to provide evidence for the correlation between the BDNF/TrkB pathway and GLT-1 and clues for the prevention and treatment targets of epilepsy.

MATERIAL and METHODS: In total, 40 Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly classified as model (n= 30) and control (n= 10) groups respectively. Western blotting was used for analyzing the expression of TrkB and GLT-1, and double immunofluorescence staining was used for detecting the cells positive for both glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) and TrkB in the hippocampus and temporal cortex 7 days after establishing the kindling model.

RESULTS: Compared with the control group, protein level expression of TrkB and GLT-1, and mean optical density (OD) value of the cells positive for both GFAP and TrkB in the hippocampus and temporal cortex were significantly increased after the onset of epilepsy (P<0.05).

CONCLUSION: The BDNF/TrkB pathway may participate in the epileptogenesis through modulating the biological effect of GLT-1 in the glial cells of PTZ kindling rats, though the specific mechanisms require further investigations. Keywords : Epilepsy, TrkB, GLT-1, Pentylenetetrazol (PTZ), Astrocyte

Corresponding author : Zhong Yang, zhongyang_cq@163.com