Number changes and axonal sprouting of somatostatin positive interneurons in the hippocampus of pilocarpine-induced epileptic rats / 中华神经科杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To investigate the roles of somatostatin(SS)positive intemeurons in the development and compensation of temporal lobe epilepsy.Methods Piloearpine-induced epilepsy rat model was established.Immunohistochemistry method was used to detect number changes and axonal sprouting of SS positive intemeurons in different domains of the hippocampus at difierent time points.Degeneration of SS positive interneurons and their neurophils were detected by the double immunofluorescence staining with SS and Fluoro-Jade B(FJB)at 7 and 60 days after status epilepticus (SE).Results In the exoerimental rat group,the number of SS positive neurons decreased in each hippocampal domain,and it reached the lowest at 7 days post-SE(There were 11.1±3.3 in hilus,2.8±0.9 in CA1region and 1.8±0.7 in CA1region,t=13.519,9.644 and 8.808,all P<0.01).In chronic phase,the number of SS neurons gradually recovered,and exceeded the control group in CA1 area at 60 days post-SE(12.8±1.5 vs 8.8±1.3,t=-4.506,P<0.01),however,the number of SS neurons in the hilus(25.5±4.6)and CA1 area(4.8±0.8)remained significantly less than normal levels(t value were 4.691 and 3.953.both P<0.01).Increased SS positive fibers were found in the lacunosum-molecular (1m)layer and outer molecular layer of dentate gyrus after 30 days post-SE,and numerous SS positive fibers were seen threnghout the layers of area CA1 at 60 days post-SE.Double immunofluuorescence revealed that a few SS positive interneurons and fibers were also labeled by FJB in area CA1 at 7 days post-SE and in CA domain/hilus at 60 days post-SE.Conclusions SS intemeurons loss plays an important role in the development of temporal lobe epilepsy.The loss is partially caIlsed by the degeneration and death of neurons;SS positive neurophils increase within area CA1 in chronic phase may play a significant role in the generation and compensation of temporal lobe epilepsy.