Effects of 3-Methlyadenine on Dynamic Expression of Cerebral Cortex Autophagy-Associated Protein Beclin1 in Newborn Rats with Recurrent Seizure

Objective To explore the dynamic expression of autophagy-associated protein Beclin1 in cerebral cortex in newborn rats with recurrent seizure and the influence of 3-methlyadeine (3-MA)on Beclin1 expression. Methods One hundred and eight rats were divided into the recurrent neonatal seizure group (RS group,n=36),the 3-MA-treated seizure group (3-MA group,n=36) and control group(n=36).Rats in RS group were subjected to 5 seizures with flurothyl during the consecutive 9 days beginning on postnatal day 6 (P6). In 3-MA group,3-MA (2 μL) was injected each day before seizure was induced. Western blot analysis was used to determine Beclin1 protein level in cerebral cortex at different time points (1.5 h,3.0 h,6.0 h,24.0 h and 48.0 h after the last convulsion). Results Beclin1 protein level in RS group at the time point of (1.5 h,3.0 h,6.0 h,12.0 h,24.0 h)was significantly higher than those at the corresponding time point in control group(t=2.249,2.426,3.002,2.385,1.542 Pa0.05). The protein level in 3-MA group at the time point(1.5 h,3.0 h,6.0 h,12.0 h)was decreased significantly compared with those in RS group (t=2.251,2.426,2.252,2.460 Pa0.05). There was no significant difference of Beclin1 expression at 48.0 h between RS group and control group (t=1.502 P0.05),and the protein level at 24.0 h and 48.0 h was also not significantly different between 3-MA group and RS group(t=1.542,1.285 Pa0.05). Conclusions Autop-hagy/lysosomal pathway was activated immediately after recurrent seizures as indicated by the elevated expression of Beclin1 in cerebral cortex. 3-MA was involved in the regulation of autophagy/lysosomal pathway by down-regulating the expression of Beclin1.