Abstract: Objective To explore the effects of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) on expression of apoptotic regulated genes (bcl-2 and c-jun) in hippocampus after status convulsivus (SC). Methods Seizures were induced in 32 adult Wistar rats with lithium-pilocarpine intraperitoneal injection (SC), the other 32 rats were as the normal controls (NC). The rats were sacrificed 6 h after injection of normal saline (NS), BDNF, or anti-BDNF in left lateral ventricle (or no injection). The expression of Bcl-2 and c-Jun protein and bcl-2 and c-jun mRNA were investigated with immunocytochemistry, RT-PCR and in situ hybridization. Results The expression of bcl-2 and c-jun (both protein and mRNA) was not significantly different in the hippocampus of both side in NC. In SC, the expression of bcl-2 ranged from more to less as BDNF>NS and non-injection>anti-BDNF in the hippocampus of non-injected side, while the expression of c-jun reversed. However,there was not significant difference in the expression of bcl-2 or c-jun in the hippocampus of non-injected side. Conclusion Exogenous BDNF can up-regulate the expression of bcl-2 and down-regulate the expression of c-jun in hippocampal cells, which may protect brain from apoptosis after after SC. The intraventricular injection of BDNF diffuses limited, which works less for clinical treatment.

Key words: status convulsivus, brain-derived neurotrophic factor, apoptosis, bcl-2, c-jun, rats