Expression of neuron-specific enolase in adult rat brain following status epilepticus.

Increased levels of neuron-specific enolase (NSE), a key glycolytic enzyme, in either the cerebrospinal fluid or the serum is correlated with both the duration and the outcome of status epilepticus. To further understand the molecular basis of seizure-induced elevations in NSE protein, we investigated NSE mRNA expression in the adult rat brain following systemic administration of kainic acid. The findings demonstrated either no change or a decrease in NSE gene expression during, and following, status epilepticus, suggesting that posttranscriptional mechanisms are responsible for seizure-induced increases in NSE protein.