OBJECTIVETo study the long term protectice effe ct of diazepam interferential treatment on
hippocampal formation in immature
rats with status epilepticus.METHODSHealthy postnatal Wistar rat pups(n=72)were divided into control group of normal saline,diazepam interfe rential group and Lithium-pilocarpine-induced status epilepticus group randoml y.They were followed up to the stage of mature rats.Conventional histopathologic al method and electron microscope were utilized to observe morphological changes in
hippocampal formation.In addition,Timm histochemical technique was adopted to study
mossy fiber sprouting.RESULTSAbout 2/3 of rats in status epilepticu group developed hippocampal neuroal degeneration and necrosis ,especially in subfields CA1,CA3 and dentate gyrus. Mossy fiber sprouting was f ound in the CA3 subfield.There were about 1/3 SE rats without injuries in hippoc ampal formation.No hippocampus lesions and mossy fiber sprouting were found in b oth of the normal saline and diazepam interferential groups.CONCLUSIO NThe damage of hippocampal formation caused by status epilepticus in i mmature rats can be prevented by diazepam interferential treatment.This protecti ve effect can last to maturity.