Objective: To investigate the expression of caspase1 mRNA in hippocampus of(developing) rats following recurrent seizures
and the effects of
tetramethylpyrazine on it.Methods: One(hundred) and(sixty)two postnatal SpragueDawley rats of 20day old were randomly divided into three groups: the control group,the seizure group and the tetramethylpyrazine treated group.Seizure model of rats were induced by(inhalant) flurothyl daily in 6 consecutive days.Brain tissue was sampled at 6 hours,1 day,(3 days) and 7 days in each group after last seizure,and the expression of caspase1 mRNA in the hippocampus was(detected) by(reverse) transcriptionpolymerase chain reaction(RTPCR).At the same time,the water content was(detected) and the pathological changes in the hippocampus of rats were observed after recurrent seizures and the
brain injury was evaluated by using a semiquantitative neuropathological scoring system.Results: In(tetramethylpyrazine) treated group,the levels of caspase1 mRNA in the hippocampus,water content of brain tissues and neuropathological score at different time points were obviously lower than those in seizure group(except water content of brain tissues at 7 days,all P<0.01);edema,degeneration and necrosis of nerve cells in the hippocampus of the rat were also significantly decreased.Conclusion: Tetramethylpyrazine can(effectively) decrease brain edema and neuron injuries of the hippocampus induced by seizures and its protective mechanism on the developing brain injury of seizures is probably related to the suppression of the abnormal levels of caspase1 mRNA in the hippocampus.