GABAA and glutamate receptor subunit mRNAs in cortex of mice chemically kindled with FG 7142.

Messenger RNA (mRNA) for several subunits of the GABAA receptor was measured in the cortex of mice chemically kindled with FG 7142. At 10 days after the final FG 7142 injection, beta 2 and gamma 2S subunit mRNA were significantly increased. At 31 days, alpha 1, alpha 3, beta 2, and gamma 2L mRNA were elevated. In contrast, levels of mRNA for four subunits of the glutamate receptor in the cortex of FG 7142-kindled mice killed at 31 days were not significantly increased. Previous investigations have shown a reduction in GABA-gated chloride channel function and density in mice kindled with FG 7142, and the increases in subunit mRNA found in the present studies may be a response to these decreases. These results indicate that chemical kindling produces long-lasting changes in expression of genes coding for specific neurotransmitter receptor subunits.