Rapid kindling of the hippocampus protects against neural damage resultingfrom status epilepticus

It has previously been reported that rats kindled via the standard kindling procedure do not exhibit the typical profile of neuropathology following s tatus epilepticus. We wished to determine whether a 1-day rapid kindling pr ocedure is also neuroprotective against cell damage resulting from prolonge d seizure activity. We found that rats rapidly kindled from the dorsal hipp ocampus were more resistant to a kainic acid challenge 21-25 days after kin dling than were unkindled control rats. Kindling prior to a kainic acid cha llenge also provided substantial protection against status epilepticus-indu ced damage in the CA3 region of the hippocampus and piriform cortex in most animals. Thus, despite the short kindling time period, rapid kindling is n europrotective against status epilepticus-induced cell damage. NeuroReport 12:453-457 (C) 2001 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.