Neural Regeneration Research ›› 2013, Vol. 8 ›› Issue (14): 1307-1315.doi: 10.3969/j.issn.1673-5374.2013.14.007

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Anti-epileptic effects of neuropeptide Y gene transfection into the rat brain

Changzheng Dong1, Wenqing Zhao1, 2, Wenling Li2, Peiyuan Lv3, Xiufang Dong4   

  1. 1 Faculty of Graduate Studies, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang 050051, Hebei Province, China
    2 Department of Functional Neurosurgery, Hebei General Hospital, Shijiazhuang 050051, Hebei Province, China
    3 Department of Neurology, Hebei General Hospital, Shijiazhuang 050051, Hebei Province, China
    4 Department of Neurology, First Hospital of Xingtai, Xingtai 054000, Hebei Province, China
  • Received:2012-08-20 Revised:2013-04-24 Online:2013-05-15 Published:2013-05-15
  • Contact: Wenqing Zhao, Professor. Faculty of Graduate Studies, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang 050051, Hebei Province, China; Department of Functional Neurosurgery, Hebei General Hospital, Shijiazhuang 050051, Hebei Province, China, promisingznd@gmail.com.
  • About author:Changzheng Dong☆, M.D., Attending Physician.

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Abstract:

Neuropeptide Y gene transfection into normal rat brain tissue can provide gene overexpression, which can attenuate the severity of kainic acid-induced seizures. In this study, a recombinant adeno-associated virus carrying the neuropeptide Y gene was transfected into brain tissue of rats with kainic acid-induced epilepsy through stereotactic methods. Following these transfections, we verified overexpression of the neuropeptide Y gene in the epileptic brain. Electroencephalograms showed that seizure severity was significantly inhibited and seizure latency was significantly prolonged up to 4 weeks after gene transfection. Moreover, quantitative fluorescent PCR and western blot assays revealed that the mRNA and protein expression of the N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor subunits NR1, NR2A, and NR2B was inhibited in the hippocampus of epileptic rats. These findings indicate that neuropeptide Y may inhibit seizures via down-regulation of the functional expression of N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors.

Key words: neural regeneration, brain injury, gene therapy, adeno-associated virus, neuropeptide Y, epilepsy, N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor, kainic acid, seizures, neuroregeneration