EFFECTS OF KAINIC ACID-INDUCED SEIZURES ON IMMEDIATE-EARLY GENE-EXPRESSION IN MICE WITH A TARGETED MUTATION OF THE CREB GENE

The present study examined the response of immediate early genes follo wing kainic acid induced seizures in mice lacking the alpha and delta isoforms of CREB. mRNA levels for c-fos, c-jun, and Krox-24 were measu red following limbic seizure activity and were found to be induced in wild type as well as CREB mutant mice. This effect was also seen for t hese three mRNAs at the protein level as well as for FOS-B. Furthermor e the time course of expression of FOS, JUN, KROX-24, and FOS-B protei ns were essentially the same in CREB mutant mice as compared to wild-t ype controls. These data suggest that CREB alpha and delta are not req uired for the induction of immediate early genes following pharmacolog ically induced seizures.