EFFECTS OF INTERLEUKIN-1β ON EXPRESSION OF GROUP II mGluR2/3 mRNA IN THE HIPPOCAMPUS OF EPILEPTIC RATS INDUCED BY GLUTAMATE

Objective To explore the relationship between interleukin-1β(IL-1β) and group Ⅱ metabotropic glutamate receptors(mGluR2/3). Methods The rats were randomly divided into five groups:1^cotrol;2^group Glu;3^group IL-1β+Glu;4^group IL-1β;5^group IL-1β+D-AP5+Glu.The behavior of animals was observed.Expression of mGluR2/3 mRNA was assayed with RT-PCR. Results The alteration of behavior showed that the latent period of seizure in group with IL-1β+Glu was shortened significantly and the degree of seizure was also more serious as compared with that in group Glu.Expression of mGluR2/3 mRNA showed marked enhancement in group with IL-1β+Glu and group with Glu compared with control.However,expression of mGluR2 mRNA in group IL-1β+Glu was markedly decreased as compared to that in group Glu;the level of mGluR3 mRNA showed no apparent difference between group IL-1β+Glu and group Glu.Conclusion Present study suggests that IL-1β enhances the degree of seizure induced by glutamate,the mechanism may be due to its direct or indirect effects on down-regulation of expression of mGluR2 mRNA.