[High expression of snail in mouse cerebral cortex following kainic acid-induced status epilepticus]

Objective To observe the expression of snail in mouse cortex in the model of status epilepticus (SE) induced by kainic acid (KA) and explore the role of snail in SE. Methods Sixty-four adult male C57/BL6 mice were randomly divided into control group and SE group, 32 mice in each group. Intraperitoneal injection of normal saline was performed in control group; instead, KA was injected intraperitoneally in SE group to induce SE. The organs were harvested 3, 8, 24 and 72 hours post the cessation of each group. Reverse transcription-PCR was used to detect the expression of snail mRNA; the expression of snail protein was tested by Western blotting; the distribution of snail was determined using immunohistochemistry; snail expression in cortex was located by immunofluorescence technique. Results Compared with the control group, mRNA and protein expression of snail in SE group were significant higher, and they reached the peak at 24 hours. Immunohistochemistry indicated weak positive expression of snail in control group. In SE group, it was widely distributed in different cortical neurons and glial cells. Immunofluorescence histochemistry further proved that snail was localized in neurons and astrocytes. Conclusion Snail is strongly expressed in neuron and astrocyte of mouse cortex at KA-induced SE, which indicates snail is possibly related to the attack of SE.