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Updated: Jun 8, 2026
Electroconvulsive Seizures in Rats and Fractionation of Their Hippocampi to Examine Seizure-induced Changes in Postsynaptic Density Proteins
Published on: August 15, 2017
P2X7 receptor differentially modulates astroglial apoptosis and clasmatodendrosis in the rat brain following status
Ji-Eun Kim1, Hea Jin Ryu, Seong-Il Yeo
1Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Institute of Epilepsy Research, College of Medicine, Hallym University, Chunchon 200-702, South Korea.
Abstract:
Recently, it has been reported that astroglial loss/dysfunction plays a role in epileptogenesis. In addition, astroglial loss is accompanied by up-regulation of P2X7 receptor expression in microglia. Therefore, we investigated whether P2X7 receptor is involved in astroglial damages induced by status epilepticus (SE). In the present study, astroglial loss showed the regional-specific manner and the differential responses to P2X7 receptor functions. Both OxATP and brilliant blue G (P2X7 receptor antagonists) infusion prevented apoptotic astroglial loss in the molecular layer of the dentate gyrus and the frontoparietal cortex, while it promoted clasmatodendrosis in the CA1 region as compared to saline treatment. In contrast, BzATP (a P2X7 receptor agonist) treatment exacerbated apoptotic astroglial loss in the molecular layer of the dentate gyrus and the frontoparietal cortex, but alleviated SE-induced astroglial swelling in the CA1 region. Astroglial loss in the piriform cortex was not affected by P2X7 receptor agonist- or antagonist-infusion. These findings suggest that P2X7 receptor function differently modulates SE-induced astroglial loss in distinct brain regions.
Insights
The P2X7 receptor influences brain damage after seizures differently across brain regions. Blocking this receptor can prevent some cell death, but may worsen other types of damage, impacting epileptogenesis research.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Cell Biology
- Epilepsy Research
Background:
- Astroglial dysfunction is implicated in epileptogenesis.
- Astroglial loss correlates with increased P2X7 receptor expression in microglia.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of the P2X7 receptor in astroglial damage following status epilepticus (SE).
- To determine if P2X7 receptor function modulates SE-induced astroglial loss in a region-specific manner.
Main Methods:
- Administered P2X7 receptor antagonists (OxATP, brilliant blue G) and an agonist (BzATP) in a rodent model of SE.
- Evaluated astroglial loss, apoptosis, clasmatodendrosis, and swelling in specific brain regions (dentate gyrus, frontoparietal cortex, CA1, piriform cortex).
Main Results:
- P2X7 receptor antagonists prevented apoptotic astroglial loss in the dentate gyrus and frontoparietal cortex but induced clasmatodendrosis in the CA1 region.
- P2X7 receptor agonist exacerbated apoptosis in the dentate gyrus and frontoparietal cortex but reduced swelling in the CA1 region.
- Astroglial loss in the piriform cortex was unaffected by P2X7 receptor modulation.
Conclusions:
- P2X7 receptor signaling differentially modulates SE-induced astroglial damage across distinct brain regions.
- Targeting the P2X7 receptor may have complex, region-specific effects on brain injury during epileptogenesis.
