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

• Published in: Neural regeneration research 2012-09, Vol.7 (26), p.2036-2042
• Main Authors: Liu, Lingjuan, Mao, Dingan, Liu, Liqun, Huang, Yu, Bo, Tao
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Research and Report : Neurodegenerative Disease and Neural Regeneration; γ-氨基丁酸转运蛋白; 发育; 大脑皮质; 大鼠脑; 孕激素; 惊厥; 激素治疗; 谷氨酸转运体
• ISSN: 1673-5374; 1876-7958
• DOI: 10.3969/j.issn.1673-5374.2012.26.005

Seizures were induced by flurothyl inhalation. Rats were intramuscularly treated with progesterone after each seizure. Results demonstrated that glutamate transporter 2 and y-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 ~-aminobutyric acid transporter 1 levels decreased. These results suggest that glutamate transporter 2 and y-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.