Rapid kindling of the hippocampus protects against neural damage resulting from status epilepticus

It has previously been reported that rats kindled via the standard kindling procedure do not exhibit the typical profile of neuropathology following status epilepticus. We wished to determine whether a 1-day rapid kindling procedure is also neuroprotective against cell damage resulting from prolonged seizure activity. We found that rats rapidly kindled from the dorsal hippocampus were more resistant to a kainic acid challenge 21-25 days after kindling than were unkindled control rats. Kindling prior to a kainic acid challenge also provided substantial protection against status epilepticus-induced damage in the CA3 region of the hippocampus and piriform cortex in most animals. Thus, despite the short kindling time period, rapid kindling is neuroprotective against status epilepticus-induced cell damage.