Sustained seizures cause circumscribed cerebral changes in glial fibrillary acidic protein, neurofilament and laminin immunofluorescence.

Sustained experimental seizures in rats have previously been shown to cause an extensive necrosis in pars reticulata of substantia nigra (SNPR) and globus pallidus (GP). In the present paper we have studied the effects of hexafluorodiethyl ether-induced seizures on the immunoreactivity seen with antibodies directed against glial fibrillary acidic protein, GFA, used to visualize astrocytes, antibodies to the glycoprotein laminin as a marker for blood vessel walls and neurofilament (NF) antibodies to monitor neuronal disturbances. Already 12 h after a 20-min seizure period a reduction in GFA immunofluorescence intensity was observed in SNPR. After 3 days, marked lesions were noted in SNPR and GP as seen with cresyl violet staining. The lesions contained almost no GFA-positive structures. In the proximity of the lesions, an increase in GFA-immunoreactivity was noted. Such an increase, although less pronounced, was also seen in the major projection areas of SNPR. Two months post-seizure, the gliotic reaction had disappeared, and only a thin and elongated gliotic scar was observed. In spite of the development of a profound central necrosis especially evident in SNPR, both laminin- and NF-immunoreactivity was slightly increased within the lesioned areas. NF-immunoreactivity was also increased in the superior colliculus and in the reticular formation. Two months post-experiment NF-immunofluorescence was normalized but the former lesion sites showed signs of hypervascularization. We conclude that hexafluorodiethyl ether-induced 20-min seizures lead to rapid, localized glial and neuronal changes in the rat brain as evidenced by GFA and NF immunohistochemistry, while the vascular network remains intact.