Abstract:OBJECTIVE: Febrile seizures (FS) occur more frequently in children between the ages of six months and five years, especially when they have a fever (38-42℃). The pathophysiological mechanism for FS is not clear at the moment. To explain the changes of cellular energy metabolism during FS, the expression of uncoupling protein-4 (UCP4) was studied after recurrent FS in the hippocampus using developing rats. METHODS: FS were induced in the rats by exposure to a hot water bath. Seventy-two developing rats were divided into a Control group (n=24), a FS group (n=24), and a Febrile without seizure group (Febrile group, n=24). The mRNA and protein expression of UCP4 in the rat hippocampus was studied after the hyperthermia stimulation using immunohistochemistry, in situ hybridization and Western blot analysis. RESULTS: The UCP4 content in the hippocampus was higher in the FS group than that in both of the Control and Febrile groups, while the UCP4 content in the Febrile group was the lowest among the three groups. The highest mean intergrated density value (IDV) /area was 22 150.63± 423.40 in the FS group, followed by the Control group ( 14 830.75± 641.91) and the Febrile group ( 10 511.63± 302.07) (both P< 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Increased expression of UCP4 in the FS group suggested an increased uncoupling process in mitochondria. Consequently, recurrent FS could decrease ATP production and affect the mitochondrial reserve function.
