NUCLEAR FACTOR-KAPPA-B IN RAT-BRAIN - ENHANCED DNA-BINDING ACTIVITY FOLLOWING CONVULSANT-INDUCED SEIZURES

The DNA-binding protein nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-kappa B) is a pleio tropic transcription factor which regulates the transcription of speci fic target genes such as cytokines. The existence of NF-kappa B has no t been reported in brain tissue. This is the first report demonstratin g the expression of NF-kappa B in the rat brain. After pentylene tetra zole (s.c)-induced clonic-tonic seizures at an LD(50) dose of 85 mg/kg , we have shown a gradual increase in NF-kappa B expression reaching a maximum at 24 h, a decrease at 48 h and again increased at 96 and 120 h. A similar time-dependent pattern was observed for the NF-kappa B s ubunit p50 expression. The NF-kappa B subunit p65 was not expressed at all. These data suggest a possible underlying mechanism of signal tra nsduction and transcriptional regulation of late-response genes after perturbations in the CNS milieu.