FEBRILE CONVULSIONS INDUCED HIPPOCAMPAL NEURONAL DAMAGE IN RATS
Zhou GP, Qin J,
Tang XY, Jiang ZG
Peking University
First Hospital, Beijing, China
Objective: The
main purpose of the present study is to find out whether FC causes damage
of the brain in developing rats.
Methods: A warm
water-induced rat febrile convulsion (FC) model was developed in our
study. Forty-five rats were
divided into two groups: normal control group (n=10) and hyperthermia-treated
group (n=35). The latter was further divided into FC and hyperthermic
(non-convulsive) groups. Four rats in each group were randomly selected for
the further studies. The ultrastructural changes of the hippocampal neuron were
observed under a electronic microscope, and the numerical density (Nv) of the
CA1 neurons was counted by the Disector system.
Results: No
special ultrastructual findings of the hippocampal CA1 and hile neurons were
observed in the normal and the hyperthermic groups. In FC group, however,
the mitochondrion volume was found decreased, the matrix condensed, the ridge
obscured or disappeared, and vacuole formed in some mitochondrions. Mild to
moderate dilation of Glogi complex was also observed. The Nv of hippocampal
CA1 neurons in FC group (1.22±0.13×10-4μm-3) was
significantly decreased compared with that in normal (1.79±0.11×10-4μm-3 ) and hyperthermic
( 1.84±0.13 ×0-4μm-3
) groups ( P< 0.01 ). No significant difference of Nv was observed
between normal group and hyperthermic group ( P> 0.05 ).
Conclusion: Recurrent
FC may cause damage and lost of hippocampal neuron in the developing rats.