GAD-immunoreactive neurons are preserved in the hippocampus of rats with spontaneous recurrent seizures

ABSTRACT

In the present glutamate decarboxylase immunoreactivity (GAD-IR) was used to quantify GABAergic neurons in the hippocampus of rats exhibiting spontaneous recurtent seizures following pilocarpine-induced status epilepticus. Histological examination demonstrated marked neuronal damage to hippocampal neurons. However, in the same region, GAD-IR neurons were preserved. the present data demonstrate a selective resistance of GABAergic neurons to status epilepticus-induced neuronal damage, suggesting that loss of hippocampal GABAergic neurons does not underlie the recurrence of seizures in these animals