RESUMO
The effects of kainic acid-induced seizures on GABA and GABA transporter in the rat cerebellum were examined by means of immunohistochemical and Western blot methods. Immunocytochemical analysis showed that kainic acid-induced seizures led to a decreased immunoreactivity for GABA to 3 weeks after seizures with an slight increase in the immunoreactivity of cerebellum 24 h after treatment. Immunoreactivities of GABA transporters, GAT-1 and GAT-3 which are localized neurons and astrocytes, were increased at 24 and 48h and after that weak immunoreactivites for GABA transporters were shown in the cerebellar tissues. Our results indicate that kainic acid-induced seizures exerts specific effects on GABA contents and the GABA transporters in the cerebellum and a decrease of GABA contents might not always associated with the decrease in the number of GABA transporters in the rat cerebellum.