ABSTRACT
Objective To investigate the expression of interleukin-1 β(IL-1 β) and apoptosis in the hippocampus of rats with prolonged febrile seizures(PFS),and to provide the theoretical basis for exploring the brain damage of PFS and the effective prevention and control measures.Methods Ninety-six 14-day-old Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into 3 groups:normal control group(NC group,n =32),hyperthermia group(HC group,n =32) and PFS group(n =32).Lipopolysaccharide combined low-dose Kainic acid of intraperitoneal injection were used to induce PFS.Then the histopathologic changes in hippocampus were viewed by HE staining and electronmicroscope,the expression of IL-1β protein in hippocampus of rats was detected with immunohistochemistry methods,the neuron apoptosis was observed by TdT-mediated dUTP nick end labeling,and the relationship of both was researched.Results 1.Thirty-two rats all appeared seizures in PFS group,the average rectal temperature was (39.3 ± 0.4) ℃ ; while the rats in other groups were not convulsions.2.The TUNEL positive cells in hippocampus CA1 of PFS group were more than that of NC group and HC group at 6 h after the PFS(all P ＜0.01),reached its highest level at 24 h.3.Measured by immunohistochemistry,the level of IL-1β in the hippocampus of PFS group was significantly higher than that of the NC group and HC group at 6 h after the PFS(all P ＜ 0.01).There was a positive correlation between the expression of IL-1 β and the apoptotic index in hippocampus(r =0.789,P ＜ 0.01).Conclusions IL-1 β expression in the hippocampus increases following PFS in rats,and the increased IL-1 β expression was correlated with neurocyte apoptosis.