Neural Regeneration Research ›› 2012, Vol. 7 ›› Issue (26): 2036-2042.

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Effects of progesterone on glutamate transporter 2 and gamma-aminobutyric acid transporter 1 expression in the developing rat brain after recurrent seizures

Lingjuan Liu, Dingan Mao, Liqun Liu, Yu Huang, Tao Bo   

  1. Department of Pediatrics, Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410011, Hunan Province, China
  • Received:2012-02-11 Revised:2012-06-15 Online:2012-09-15 Published:2012-09-15
  • Contact: Din-gan Mao, M.D., Professor, Doctoral supervisor, De-partment of Pediatrics, Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410011, Hunan Province, China mda5611@sina.com
  • About author:Lingjuan Liu☆, Studying for doctorate, Department of Pediatrics, Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410011, Hunan Province, China

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Abstract:

Seizures were induced by flurothyl inhalation. Rats were intramuscularly treated with progesterone after each seizure. Results demonstrated that glutamate transporter 2 and γ-aminobutyric acid transporter 1 expression levels were significantly increased in the cerebral cortex and hippocampus of the developing rat brain following recurrent seizures. After progesterone treatment, glutamate transporter 2 protein expression was upregulated, but γ-aminobutyric acid transporter 1 levels de-creased. These results suggest that glutamate transporter 2 and γ-aminobutyric acid transporter 1 are involved in the pathological processes of epilepsy. Progesterone can help maintain a balance between excitatory and inhibitory systems by modulating the amino acid transporter system, and protect the developing brain after recurrent seizures.

Key words: progesterone, seizure, transporter, glutamate, γ-aminobutyric acid