The Changes in the Expression of gamma-Aminobutyric Acid Related Enzymes in the Mouse Hippocampus Following Ketogenic Diet / 대한해부학회지

ABSTRACT

The ketogenic diet (KD) has been used to treat intractable childhood epilepsy. However, its mechanism of action remains unknown. In the present study, we examined the effects of KD on the expression of multiple constituents of the GABAergic system in the hippocampus through immunohistochemistry and northern blot analysis. From the results, we have shown that KD increased expression of GABA and decreased GABA transporter1 (GABATp) and GABA transaminase (GABA-T) mRNA levels in the hippocampus. These results suggest that the neuroinhibitory effect of KD may be mediated, at least in part, by the increment of GABAergic activity in the hippocampus. KD may increase the GABA levels in the synaptic space by limiting GABA reuptake and in the presynaptic nerve terminal by inhibiting GABA degradation.