Interleukin-1beta immunoreactivity and microglia are enhanced in the rat hippocampus by focal kainate application: functional evidence for enhancement of electrographic seizures

Vezzani, A., Conti, M., De Luigi, A., Ravizza, T., Moneta, D., Marchesi, F. and De Simoni, M.G. (1999) Interleukin-1beta immunoreactivity and microglia are enhanced in the rat hippocampus by focal kainate application: functional evidence for enhancement of electrographic seizures. Journal of Neuroscience, 19(12), pp. 5054-5065.

Abstract

<p>Using immunocytochemistry and ELISA, we investigated the production of interleukin (IL)-1β in the rat hippocampus after focal application of kainic acid inducing electroencephalographic (EEG) seizures and CA3 neuronal cell loss. Next, we studied whether EEG seizures per se induced IL-1β and microglia changes in the hippocampus using bicuculline as a nonexcitotoxic convulsant agent. Finally, to address the functional role of this cytokine, we measured the effect of human recombinant (hr)IL-1β on seizure activity as one marker of the response to kainate.</p> <p>Three and 24 hr after unilateral intrahippocampal application of 0.19 nmol of kainate, IL-1β immunoreactivity was enhanced in glia in the injected and the contralateral hippocampi. At 24 hr, IL-1β concentration increased by 16-fold (p < 0.01) in the injected hippocampus. Reactive microglia was enhanced with a pattern similar to IL-1β immunoreactivity. Intrahippocampal application of 0.77 nmol of bicuculline methiodide, which induces EEG seizures but not cell loss, enhanced IL-1β immunoreactivity and microglia, although to a less extent and for a shorter time compared with kainate. One nanogram of (hr)IL-1β intrahippocampally injected 10 min before kainate enhanced by 226% the time spent in seizures (p =< 0.01). This effect was blocked by coinjection of 1 μg (hr)IL-1β receptor antagonist or 0.1 ng of 3-((+)-2-carboxypiperazin-4-yl)-propyl-1-phosphonate, selective antagonists of IL-1β and NMDA receptors, respectively.</p> <p>Thus, convulsant and/or excitotoxic stimuli increase the production of IL-1β in microglia-like cells in the hippocampus. In addition, exogenous application of IL-1β prolongs kainate-induced hippocampal EEG seizures by enhancing glutamatergic neurotransmission.</p>

• Item Type: Articles
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Marchesi, Dr Francesco
• Authors: Vezzani, A., Conti, M., De Luigi, A., Ravizza, T., Moneta, D., Marchesi, F., and De Simoni, M.G.
• College/School: College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Biodiversity, One Health & Veterinary Medicine
• Journal Name: Journal of Neuroscience
• Publisher: The Society for Neuroscience
• ISSN: 0270-6474