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Updated: Aug 13, 2026
Electroconvulsive Seizures in Rats and Fractionation of Their Hippocampi to Examine Seizure-induced Changes in Postsynaptic Density Proteins
Published on: August 15, 2017
Glial fibrillary acidic protein expression after electroconvulsive shocks in rat brain
Keila M Ceresér1, Benício N Frey, Fernanda B Bernardes
1Laboratório de Psiquiatria Experimental, Centro de Pesquisas, Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Ramiro Barcelos 2350, 90035-003 Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
Objective:
The aim of the present study was to assess the effect of electroconvulsive shock (ECS) in glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) expression in rat brain.
Methods:
Rats were given either a single (acute) or a series of eight (chronic) ECS. Brain regions were isolated and levels of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) in the brain tissue (cortex, hippocampus, and cerebellum) were assessed using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).
Results:
We showed that GFAP expression is reduced in the hippocampus within 48 h and 7 days after acute ECS. GFAP levels are increased in the cerebellum immediately after acute and chronic ECS. No changes were observed in the cortex.
Conclusions:
Our findings showed a differential effect of acute and chronic ECS in the astroglial response in the brain of rats.
