CORTICOTROPIN-RELEASING FACTOR INDUCTION IN RAT PIRIFORM CORTEX FOLLOWING KAINATE-ELICITED SEIZURES

There is a substantial increase in number of cells labeled for cortico tropin-releasing factor-like immunoreactivity in specific extrahypotha lamic brain regions, particularly the piriform cortex, in rats allowed to survive 24 h following generalized clonic seizures. Seizures were elicited by kainic acid. Vehicle treated control animals had only a fe w cells labeled for corticotropin-releasing factor-like immunoreactivi ty at these brain sites. These areas of corticotropin-releasing factor -like induction appear to be localized to brain regions known to be vu lnerable to kainate neurotoxicity and cell destruction.