Appearance and alteration of TUNEL positive cells through epileptogenesis in amygdaloid kindled rat

To evaluate the role of neural cell death during and after kindling epilept ogenesis, apoptotic cells were analyzed in amygdaloid kindled rat using TUN EL staining as a marker of programmed cell death. TUNEL positive cells (TPC ) were stained and counted as apoptotic cells in hippocampus, white matter, diencephalon, and cortex at three stages; CO (before kindling), C3 (during kindling) and C5 (fully kindled). The animals were studied 2 h after the l ast stimulation. In all regions except cortex, apoptotic cells in stage C3 were significantly increased as compared to those in stage CO. Especially, in white matter significantly more apoptotic cells in stage C3 were detecte d than in stage C5. The present data showed that in the course of getting t he epileptogenesis, apoptosis had already occurred and this type of cell de ath may play a significant role in reaching stage C5 through kindling. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.