Blood-brain barrier changes with kainic acid-induced limbic seizures

Journal Article · Tue Feb 01 04:00:00 EST 1983 · Exp. Neurol.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/0014-4886(83)90223-6· OSTI ID:6255216

Zucker, D K; Wooten, G F; Lothman, E W

Rats were treated with kainic acid (KA) i.v. to produce increasingly severe limbic seizures that were monitored with a behavioral rating scale. At various times after the induction of seizures, the animals; blood-brain barriers (B-BB) were studied with alpha-(/sup 14/C)aminoisobutyric acid ((/sup 14/C)AIBA) autoradiography. Using optical density ratios, a coefficient was devised to assess the functional integrity of the B-BB in discrete anatomic regions and to quantitatively compare these measurements among different groups of experimental animals. In animals that exhibited only mild seizures, the B-BB was not different from controls. Animals with severe limbic seizures, however, showed alterations. For as long as 2 h after delivery of KA, the B-BB appeared normal; from 2 to 24 h, the permeability to (/sup 14/C)AIBA was markedly increased throughout the brain, especially in limbic regions; from 24 h to 7 days the B-BB returned to normal except for a small residual change in limbic structures. These findings were confirmed with Evans blue dye studies of the B-BB. A correlation between focal accentuation of B-BB alterations and neuropathologic changes was found. These experiments indicted that recurrent limbic seizures may lead to a breakdown in the B-BB independent of systemic metabolic derangements. Marked focal metabolic and electrical changes, however, occurred in several limbic structures several hours before the blood-brain barrier was altered.

• Research Organization: Department of Neurology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri
• OSTI ID: 6255216
• Journal Information: Exp. Neurol.; (United States), Journal Name: Exp. Neurol.; (United States) Journal Issue: 2 Vol. 79:2; ISSN EXNEA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

551001* -- Physiological Systems-- Tracer Techniques
59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
ACETIC ACID ESTERS
ANIMALS
AUTORADIOGRAPHY
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
BIOLOGICAL MODELS
BLOOD-BRAIN BARRIER
BODY
BRAIN
CARBON 14 COMPOUNDS
CARBOXYLIC ACID ESTERS
CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM
COMPARATIVE EVALUATIONS
DISEASES
DRUGS
EPILEPSY
ESTERS
ISOTOPE APPLICATIONS
LABELLED COMPOUNDS
MAMMALS
MEDICINE
METABOLISM
NERVOUS SYSTEM
NERVOUS SYSTEM DISEASES
NEUROLOGY
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANS
PERMEABILITY
PHYSIOLOGY
RATS
RODENTS
TRACER TECHNIQUES
VERTEBRATES