Study on the role of glutamate transporter in hippocampus of the PTZ-kindled rats

Objective To investigate the mechanism of the enhanced seizure susceptibility by the change of GLT 1 and EAAC1 in hippocampus of the PTZ induced rats during and after kindling. Methods Seventy eight adult male Wistar rats(250～350g) were randomly divided into two groups, control group(Ⅰ) and PTZ group(Ⅱ). A dose of PTZ (35mg/kg/day) was intraperitoneally injected into the animals of group (Ⅱ) until the kindling criterion was reached. The rats of group(Ⅰ) were administered with the same dose of normal saline . The expression of GLT 1mRNA and EAAC1 mRNA in hippocampus were detected by the RT PCR.Results As compared with the controls, the expression of GLT 1mRNA started to increase at 15d after injection in PTZ group , and increased markedly at 0h, 48h after kindling ,then decreased significantly. The expression of EAAC1 mRNA was significantly increased after injection and kindling in PTZ group.They returned to the level of the controls at 60d. There was remarkable difference between the PTZ group and the controls after kindling. Conclusions The reduction of GLT 1 and the increase of EAAC1 in hippocampus can be related to seizure susceptibility.