Pilocarpine-induced status epilepticus alters hippocampal PKC expression in mice

We investigated the protein expression of different protein kinase C (PKC) isoforms (PKCα, PKCβ1, PKCβ2, PKCγ, PKCδ, PKCε, PKCη and PKCζ) in the hippocampus of normal control mice and progressive changes in PKC isoforms expression during and after pilocarpine induced status epilepticus (PISE). We showed the reduced expression of PKCδ, PKCη and PKCζ in interneurons in the CA1 area and in the hilus of the dentate gyrus during or after PISE. Increased expression of PKCα and PKCβ1 was demonstrated in the stratum pyramidale of CA3 area, and PKCε was up-regulated in the stratum lucidum of the CA3 area during or after PISE. Our results suggest that hippocampal PKC isoforms may play different roles in seizure generation, and be targets for development of anti-convulsive drugs.