Long-term effects of early seizure-like discharge on neuronal function and NMDAR subunit mRNA expression in developing cortical neurons of rat

Objective: To explore the long-term effect of early seizure-like discharge on neuronal function and NMDAR subunit mRNA expression in developing cortical neurons of rat. Methods: The seizure model was recurrent epileptiform discharges induced by transient magnesium-free media treatment in the primary cultured embryo cortical neurons of rat. According to different treatment to cortical neurons at cultured day 6, three groups were divided: regular DMEM medium (NOT), regular extracellular solution media (CONT) and magnesium-free extracellular solution media (MGF). The neurons were exposed to extracellular solution for 3 h at cultured day 6 in either CONT or MGF group, and then cultured in regular DMEM medium again. The expression of NMDAR subunit NR1, NR2A and NR2B mRNA was measured using fluorescent real-time quantitative RTPCR and MTT metabolic rate were detected at different cultured day (7, 12, 17 d). Results: Compared with group NOT and CONT respectively, in group MGF MTT metabolic rate decreased at 7 d and 12 d, NR1 mRNA expression decreased at 7 d and increased at 12 d(P<0.05), NR2A mRNA expression decreased at 12 d and increased at 17 d (P<0.05), and NR2B mRNA expression increased at 7 d and 17 d (P<0.05). There were not statistic significant differences of MTT metabolic rat at 17 d and mRNA expression of NR1 at 17 d, NR2A at 7 d, and NR2B at 12 d among three groups (P>0.05). Conclusion: The change of neuronal function and NMDAR subunit mRNA expression may last for relatively long time after early seizure like discharge in developing cortical neurons of rat.Biotechnology & Applied MicrobiologyCell BiologyGenetics & HeredityPharmacology & PharmacyCPCI-S(ISTP)