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Selective vulnerability of hippocampal NAAGergic neurons in experimental temporal lobe epilepsy.

Abstract
The dipeptide N-acetylaspartylglutamate (NAAG) has been recently implicated in numerous neurological disorders. NAAG binds and stimulates group II metabotropic glutamate receptors producing a down-modulation of synaptic glutamate release. In the present immunohistochemical study, we compare the distribution of NAAG-containing (NAAGergic) neurons between the hippocampus of control and chronic epileptic rats obtained with the pilocarpine model of temporal lobe epilepsy. In the hippocampal formation, NAAGergic neurons comprise a subpopulation of GABAergic neurons. Examination by light microscopy revealed a significant reduction of NAAG-immunoreactive neurons in CA3 stratum oriens (35.8%) and CA1 stratum oriens (78.87%), stratum pyramidale (40%), and stratum radiatum (56.6%). Similar loss of NAAGergic neurons was observed in the subiculum characterized by 71.82% and 77.53% reduction in the stratum oriens and radiatum, respectively, when compared with controls. NAAGergic neurons in CA2 and dentate gyrus were apparently resistant to seizure-related cell loss but appeared more complex and exhibited numerous NAAG-positive puncta. Our findings indicate a selective vulnerability of NAAGergic neurons in temporal lobe epilepsy.
AuthorsLuis F Pacheco Otalora, John R Moffett, Emilio R Garrido-Sanabria
JournalBrain research (Brain Res) Vol. 1144 Pg. 219-30 (May 04 2007) ISSN: 0006-8993 [Print] Netherlands
PMID17346683 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural)
Chemical References
  • Dipeptides
  • Isoenzymes
  • Vesicular Glutamate Transport Protein 1
  • Pilocarpine
  • isospaglumic acid
  • Glutamate Decarboxylase
  • glutamate decarboxylase 1
Topics
  • Animals
  • Cell Count (methods)
  • Cell Survival (drug effects, physiology)
  • Dipeptides (metabolism)
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Epilepsy, Temporal Lobe (chemically induced, pathology)
  • Glutamate Decarboxylase (metabolism)
  • Hippocampus (pathology)
  • Isoenzymes (metabolism)
  • Male
  • Neurons (metabolism, pathology)
  • Pilocarpine
  • Rats
  • Rats, Sprague-Dawley
  • Vesicular Glutamate Transport Protein 1 (metabolism)

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