Effects of estrogen, clomiphene on gamma-aminobutyric acid immunoreactive cell and ?1 subunit of GABA_A receptor in hippocampus of epileptic rats / 中华神经科杂志

ABSTRACT

Objectives To find out the effects of estrogen and clomiphene on behavior of epileptic rats induced by kainic acid (KA) and probe into some mechanisms. Methods Ovariectomized Sprague-Dawley female rats were treated with estrogen (E) or estrogen and clomiphene (C). Their behaviors when they were induced seizures were observed and compared. Indirect immunofluorescence method was used to measure the alterations of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) immunoreactive cells and ?1 subunits of GABA_A receptors in the hippocampus of all groups. Results The latency and time at reaching 4/5 degrees in KA+E group ((24.63?11.44) minutes and (41.50?16.22) minutes, respectively) were reduced greatly than KA group ((46.75?14.61) minutes and (65.13?12.99) minutes), while the latency of (KA+)E+C group (adding estrogen and clomiphene, (43.50?5.75) minutes) became prolonged significantly than in KA+E group. Conclusion High-level estrogen should be proconvulsant and the clomiphene might have some antiepileptic effects, which may be related with some alterations of GABA energic function in the brain.