Abstract:

Objective
To study the extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2(ERK1/2) expression of renal cells in epilepsy rats induced by kainic acid,and elucidate the mechanism of renal injury caused by epilepsy.Methods 70 male Wistar  rats were randomly divided into two groups:epilepsy group and control group,35 rats in each group.Rat epilepsy model was prepared by injection of kainic acid into amygdala under three-dimensional positioning devices.At different time points(0,2,6,12 and  24 h) after epilepsy spasm,the renal tissue specimens were immediately prepared for immunohistochemistry.The ERK1/2 expression of rat renal cells was calculated and compared with control group.Results The ERK1/2 expression (gray value) of renal tubular epithelial cells in epilepsy rats began to increase gradually after epilepsy spasm.It reached peak at 6 h after epilepsy spasm.The ERK1/2 expression of renal tubular epithelial cells in epilepsy rats was significantly higher than at 0 h （P<0.01）,then it decreased gradually;at 24 h after spasm,the renal tissue ERK1/2 expression was as high as at 0 h （P>0.05）.There were no major pathological changes in kidney of  rats with epilepsy stained with HE.Conclusion ERK1/2 activation may have important role in the renal injury caused by epilepsy.Inhibition of the activation of ERK1/2 may lead to the renal protection.

Key words: epilepsy;kainic acid;renal tubular epithelial cells;extracellular signal-regulated kinase