ABSTRACT
Objective To explore the effect of let-7c-1 on the learning and memory of PTZ-induced epileptic rats and its relevant mechanism.Methods A model of temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) was induced via PTZ kindling in SD male rats.The epileptic rats were divided into epilepsy group,agomir-control group,let-7c-1 agomir group (12 rats for each).Twelve rats were served as a negative control group.The behavior and the expression levesl of let-7c-1,Bcl-2 protein and Caspase3 were evaluated at 28 days following PTZ.Results Compared to the negative group,the escape latency of epilepsy group was prolonged and the crossing times as well as the quadrant total distance in the target were reduced (P＜0.05).However,those parameters were not significantly different between the epilepsy group and the agmoir-control group (P＞0.05).Compared to the agmoir-control group,the escape latency of let-7c-1 agomir group was prolonged and the crossing times as well as the quadrant total distance in the target were reduced (P＜ 0.05).The expression levels of let-7c-1 and let-7c-1 were 1.35±0.32 in agmoir-control group and 62.53±21.01 in agomir group (F=50.97,P＜0.05).The expression levels of let-7c-1 were higher in let-7c-1 agomir group than in other groups (P＜0.05).Compared to the negative group,the expressions of Bcl-2 protein in other groups were decreased (P＜0.05) and the Caspase3 protein were increased (P＜0.05).Compared to the agomir-control group,the expression of Bcl-2 protein was significantly decreased and the expression of Caspase3 protein was significantly increased in let-7c-1 agomir group (P＜0.05).Conclusions The present study shows that let-7c-1 may impair the learning and memory of PTZ-induced epileptic rats through decreasing the Bcl-2 protein and increasing Caspase3 protein in the hippocampus.