AIM: To study the role of gap junction(GJ) in the pathogenesis of epilepsy. METHODS: The expression of connexin(Cx) 32 and Cx43 was evaluated in penlylenetetrazol(PTZ)-induced epilepsy rats at different time points with immunohistochemistry and real-time RT-PCR. The uncoupler of gap junction,carbenoxolone (CBX), and anti-epilepsy drug,carbamazepine (CBZ), were introduced to investigate the role of gap junction in epilepsy. RESULTS: The expression of Cx32 in the cortex and hippocampus of rats increased 2 h after PTZ administration, and was more obvious 8 h later, so was the expression of Cx43. CBX not only notably inhibited the expression of Cx32 and Cx43, but also suppressed the seizures. CBZ had no obvious effect on Cx32/43 expression. Real-time RT-PCR examination showed that the level of Cx32 mRNA went up rapidly 2 h after seizures, and began to decrease 10 h later. The level of Cx43 mRNA in PTZ group was higher than that in control group from 2 h to 5 h. CBX inhibited both the seizures and the increase in the mRNA expression of Cx32/43, while CBZ only suppressed the seizures and did not affect the expression of Cx32/43. CONCLUSION: GJ between neurons is reinforced after epileptic activities and takes part in the pathophysiological mechanism of synchronization and epilepsy. CBZ has no effect on the expression of Cx32 and Cx43, indicating that the anti-epileptic mechanism of CBZ is independent of GJ. 相似文献
Utilization of organic nitrogen (N) is an important aspect of plant N assimilation and has potential application in sustainable agriculture. The aim of this study was to investigate the plant growth, C and N accumulation in leaves and roots of tomato seedlings in response to inorganic (NH4^+-N, NO3^-N) and organic nitrogen (Gly-N). Different forms of nitrogen (NH4^+-N, NO3^--N, Gly-N) were supplied to two tomato cultivars (Shenfen 918 and Huying 932) using a hydroponics system. The plant dry biomass, chlorophyll content, root activity, total carbon and nitrogen content in roots and leaves, and total N absorption, etc. were assayed during the cultivation. Our results showed that no significant differences in plant height, dry biomass, and total N content were found within the first 16 d among three treatments; however, significant differences in treatments on 24 d and 32 d were observed, and the order was NO3^--N 〉 Gly-N 〉 NH4^+-N. Significant differences were also observed between the two tomato cultivars. Chlorophyll contents in the two cultivars were significantly increased by the Gly-N treatment, and root activity showed a significant decrease in NHa^+-N treatment. Tomato leaf total carbon content was slightly affected by different N forms; however, total carbon in root and total nitrogen in root and leaf were promoted significantly by inorganic and organic N. Among the applied N forms, the increasing effects of the NH4^+-N treatment were larger than that of the Gly-N. In a word, different N resources resulted in different physiological effects in tomatoes. Organic nitrogen (e.g., Gly-N) can be a proper resource of plant N nutrition. Tomatoes of different genotypes had different responses under organic nitrogen (e.g., Gly-N) supplies. 相似文献