The role of TNF-alpha in amygdala kindled rats.

In the present study, the interaction between epileptogenesis and the immune system were studied in a kindling model. First, the effects of a single administration of TNF-alpha (5.0 microg/kg, i.p.) on seizure and EEG activity were investigated in amygdala-kindled rats. TNF-alpha treated rats showed more prolonged epileptiformic discharges than control rats. TNF-alpha also induced a decrease in the power of delta band and an increase in theta and alpha activity. In addition, a marked increase in the power of beta and gamma band was observed. The EEG changes were most numerous in the frontal cortex and amygdala. All effects were registered 24 h after TNF-alpha administration. Finally, electrical stimulation enhanced the level of TNF-alpha in blood serum from 1.9 +/- 1.5 to 12.7 +/- 3.8 pg/ml and in brain tissue 56.8 +/- 6.0 to 109.2 +/- 6.0 pg/mg, as was determined via the ELISA method. It can be concluded that there is a mutual facilitative interaction of both epileptogenic and cytokine-derived mechanisms on this type of seizure. The changes in the power spectrum of the EEG after TNF-alpha might contribute to intensify thalamic-derived facilitation of epileptic discharge in cortical structures.

Role of Indole-3-acetic Acid and Gibberellin in the Control of Internodal Elongation in Avena Stem Segments: Long Term Growth Kinetics.

Exogenous application of indoleacetic acid results in a significant suppression of the linear growth that is promoted by exogenous gibberellic acid in Avena stem segments in a fashion similar to that previously noted in Avena leaf base segments (van Overbeek and Dowding, 1961, Fourth International Conference Plant Growth Regulation). Treatment with the auxin transport inhibitors, methyl-2-chloro-9-hydroxyfluorene-(9)-carboxylate (CFM) or 2,3,5-triiodobenzoic acid (TIBA), alone promotes elongation growth of the stem segments over that of control growth. This effect is interpreted as being due to the interference in the transport of native indoleacetic acid by CFM and TIBA, thus removing the inhibitory effect of native indoleacetic acid on gibberellin-promoted growth in the internodal intercalary meristem. This results in a greater promotion of internodal growth by native gibberellins. In the presence of (2-chloroethyl) trimethylammonium chloride (CCC), the growth-promoting effects of CFM and TIBA are decreased, and the antiauxin, PCIB (4-chloro-phenoxyisobutyric acid), has no growth-promoting effects whatsoever. These results indicate that the CFM and TIBA-promoted growth require the continuous presence of gibberellins. They further support the view that native indoleacetic acid acts as a growth suppressor hormone in its regulation of gibberellin-promoted internodal extension in Avena shoots.