The expression of LC-3 following penicillin-induced developmental seizures in cortex and the intervention by E-64d in young rat

Objective To explore the dynamic expression of autophagy-associated protein LC-3 in cerebral cortex in young rats with recurrent seizure and the effect of E-64d intervention on LC-3 expression.Methods SD rats,21-day-old(P21),were randomly divided into three groups of 24 rats each,recurrent seizure group,control group and intervention group.Penicillin(4.8 × 106 U/kg)were administrated in recurrent seizure and intervention groups by intraperitoneal injection six times,once every other day to induce seizure;E-64d(4 μg)was administrated in intervention group by intraperitoneal injection before inducing seizure.Normal saline were administrated in control group.The rats had been slaughtered to take the cerebral cortex at 3 h,12 h,24 h after the last induced seizure and at 51-day-old(P51).The expressions of LC-3 protein in cerebral cortex at different time points were detected by Western-blot.Results At 3 h,12 h and 24 h after the last induced seizure,the ratio of LC3II/LC3I in cerebral cortex was significantly increased in recurrent seizure group than that in control group(t = 2.091-10.353,P 0.05),and significantly decreased in intervention group than that in recurrent seizure group(t = 2.911-5.980,P 0.05).At P51,the ratio of LC3II/LC3I were not significantly different among three groups(P 0.05).Conclusions Autophagy/lysosomal pathway were activated immediately after recurrent seizures as indicated by the elevated expression of LC-3 in cerebral cortex.E-64d was involved in the regulation of autophagy/lysosomal pathway.