Neuroscience Letters July 2015

Microglial ROS production in an electrical rat post-status epilepticus model of epileptogenesis

Rettenbeck ML, von Rüden EL, Bienas S, Carlson R, Stein VM, Tipold A, Potschka H

Contributed by Sloka Iyengar

Neuroscience Letters July 2015

Microglia are thought to contribute to epilepsy because they change shape and release reactive oxygen species (ROS). Most studies looking at microglial ROS production in epilepsy have been done after administration of a chemoconvulsant like pilocarpine or kainic acid. In the current study, the authors studied microglial ROS in an electrical status epilepticus (SE) model in rats. Using immunophenotyping to first identify microglia, the authors found an increase in microglial ROS two days after SE but not during epileptogenesis or epilepsy. Hence, anti-inflammatory strategies for epilepsy might be beneficial if they target the initial phase.

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