Dynamic changes of nitric oxide content and caspase-3 mRNA expression in hippocampus in epileptic rats induced by pilocarpine / 临床神经病学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To probe the changes of nitric oxide (NO) content and caspase-3 mRNA expression in hippocampus and the correlation between NO and caspase-3 mRNA expression post-status epilepticus (SE). Methods The models of SE were induced by pilocarpine. The nitric oxide content was detected by chromatometry and caspase-3 mRNA expression was observed by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) method. Results The level of NO increased rapidly at 6~72 h post-SE,and was still significantly higher than that of the controls (all (P)0.05).Conclusions The peak expression of nitric oxide is earlier than caspase-3 mRNA post-SE, although they have the similar diversity tendency. Nitric oxide pathway is definitely involved in the seizure initiation and correlated with caspase-3 activation.