RESUMO
Objective To investigate the effect of naloxone on neuronal cells apoptosis induced by repeated febrile seizures(FS).Methods Warm water was used to induce 70 rats FS model 15 days after birth in this study; each rat was induced 7 times febrile seizures at one- day interval . Seventy rats were randomly divided into naloxone-treated group and FS control group, receiving injection of naloxone or saline at 5, 30, 60 min and 2 hours after FS each day respectively. The rats were sacrificed 24 hours after the last seizure. Neuronal cell apoptosis was determined by TUNEL methods in situ cell death kit. TUNEL positive cells(TPC) were stained and counted as apoptosis in hippocampus and cortex. Ultrastructural changes of apoptosis neurons were observed under the electron microscope(EM). Results Compared with the FS control group, naloxone treatment could significantly relieve neuron apoptosis induced by repeated FS when it was used at 5, 30, 60 min after the last FS. However there was no significant difference in neuron apoptosis between 2 groups when naloxone was used at 2 hours after FS. The comparison of different naloxone administration time showed that the earlier naloxone was injected,the fewer apoptosis neurons were induced by FS.Conclusion Naloxone,as early used in proper dosage,may significantly alleviate apoptosis after repeated FS ,and protect neurons.