The effect of pentylenetetrazole-induced seizures on blood-brain barrier integrity in a rat model of preeclampsia


Kucuk M., Kaya M., Orhan N., Ekizoglu O., Arslan E., Arican N., ...More

TURKISH JOURNAL OF VETERINARY & ANIMAL SCIENCES, vol.36, no.3, pp.311-318, 2012 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 36 Issue: 3
  • Publication Date: 2012
  • Doi Number: 10.3906/vet-1108-2
  • Journal Name: TURKISH JOURNAL OF VETERINARY & ANIMAL SCIENCES
  • Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus, TR DİZİN (ULAKBİM)
  • Page Numbers: pp.311-318
  • Keywords: Pregnancy, hypertension, sodium fluorescein, aquaporin-4, occludin, ENDOTHELIAL-CELLS, PERMEABILITY, AQUAPORIN-4, HYPERTENSION, PREGNANCY, DECREASES, PROTEIN
  • Istanbul University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

The pathophysiological mechanisms underlying blood-brain barrier (BBB) disruption in preeclampsia/eclampsia have not been elucidated. This study investigated the effect of pentylenetetrazole (PTZ)-induced seizures on the functional and structural properties of the BBB during N (omega)-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME)-induced hypertension and proteinuria in pregnant rats. Animals were treated with L-NAME for 10 days, beginning on day 10 of pregnancy. The BBB permeability was determined by measurements of sodium fluorescein (NaFlu) extravasation into the brain. Occludin and aquaporin (AQP)-4 immunoreactivities were evaluated in brain sections. Severe proteinuria and significantly increased arterial blood pressure were observed following L-NAME treatment. PTZ-induced seizures in pregnant rats treated with L-NAME increased NaFlu levels in all of the brain regions analyzed (P < 0.01). A significant increase in the extravasation of NaFlu was also observed in the diencephalon of intact pregnant rats treated with PTZ. PTZ-induced seizures in both L-NAME-treated and untreated pregnant rats significantly decreased occludin immunoreactivity in the hippocampal capillaries. L-NAME administration significantly increased AQP-4 immunoreactivity in the astrocytic endfeet surrounding the parietal cortex microvessels of PTZ-treated and untreated pregnant rats. These findings suggest that PTZ-induced seizures lead to a severe disruption of the BBB in preeclampsia and that the paracellular pathway may play an important role in increased BBB permeability in this context.