Experimental study of neuron specific enolase and BMP4 expression in hippocampus of pentylenetetrazol kindled epilepsy rats

Objective To investigate the expression of neuron-specific enolase(NSE) and bone morphogenic protein 4(BMP4) in different hippocampal areas of pentylenetetrazol(PTZ) kindled epilepsy rats and explore their relationship with the pathogenesis of epilepsy and brain injury.Methods Fifty male SD rats were divided into experimental group(n=40) and control group(n=10).The rats in experimental group were kindled into epilepsy by chemical method,and according to the kindling process,subdivided into four groups(grade Ⅰ,Ⅲ,Ⅳ,Ⅴ).Immunohistochemistry,in situ hybridization labeled with Dig-oligonucleotide probe and the image analyzing system were used to observe the expressions of NSE and BMP4 in rat hippocampus.Results In PTZ kindled epilepsy rats,the number of cells positive for NSE and BMP4 was increased in many regions of hippocampal formation.Compared with control group,the expressions of NSE and BMP4 in CA3 and DG was elevated obviously in the grade Ⅲ group and grade Ⅳ group(P0.01),but in the grade Ⅴ group,the expressions of NSE and BMP4 in CA3 and DG was decreased gradually.Conclusion PTZ kindling can induce the neuron injury and increase neurogenesis,further implying the pathologic base of neuron deletion and plasticity variation.The expression level of NSE was closely related with the degree of neuron damage and prognosis.BMP4 may play a critical role in the pathogenesis of PTZ kindling epilepsy.