Increased Levels of mRNA for β- but not α-Subunit of Calmoduline Kinase II Following Kindled Seizures

Abstract

We studied levels of mRNA for the α- and β-subunits of calmodulin (CaM) kinase II using the amygdaloid kindling model of epilepsy. There were significant increases in mRNA for the β-subunit of CaM kinase II in the hippocampus 4—24 h after stage 5-kindled seizures. Moreover, this mRNA was significantly increased by 20.0–26.5% in the bilateral dentate gyrus 8 to 24 h after kindled seizures. The β-subunit mRNA was also significantly increased by 13.5–19.0% in the CA3 on the side ipsilateral to the stimulation, 4 to 8 h after kindled seizures. mRNA for the α-subunit of CaM kinase II was not significantly changed in the regions examined for up to 24 h after the kindled seizures. These results suggest that CaM kinase II mediates the molecular processes that follow kindled seizures. It is possible that increases in CaM kinase II-dependent protein phosphorylation are associated with the plastic changes in kindling.