DOI
https://doi.org/10.25772/3G33-Z990
Defense Date
2005
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Science
Department
Anatomy & Neurobiology
First Advisor
Dr. Severn B. Churn
Abstract
This study was conducted to characterize cellular changes occurring during the progression of status epilepticus (SE) that could lead to the maintenance of increased membrane excitability. SE was induced by injection of pilocarpine after which rats were monitored both electrographically and behaviorally. After various lengths of time in SE, specific brain regions were isolated for biochemical study. SE resulted in an early maintenance of PKA activity in both cortical homogenate and crude synaptoplasmic membrane (crude SPM) fractions. At subsequent stages of SE there was a significant increase in PKA activity in both homogenate and crude SPM fractions. Wester blot analysis showed that alteration of PKA protein expression was not responsible for the increase in PKA activity. These results show that SE has a significant duration-dependent effect on PKA activity. Combined with other cellular changes these findings, could represent a mechanism for the formation for potentiated seizure states like epilepsy.
Rights
© The Author
Is Part Of
VCU University Archives
Is Part Of
VCU Theses and Dissertations
Date of Submission
June 2008