c-met receptors deficiency was involved in absence seizures development in wag/rij rats

Background: a variety of receptors may be involved in the pathogenesis of absence seizures. the c-met receptors have a critical role in modulating the gabaergic interneurons and creating a balance between excitatory and inhibitory neurotransmission, sensorimotor gating, and normal synaptic plasticity. objectives: this study aimed to assess the changes of the c-met receptor during the appearance of absence attacks in the experimental model of absence epilepsy. methods: a total of 48 animals were divided into four groups of two- and six-month-old wag/rij and wistar rats. epileptic wag/rij rats showing swp in electrocorticogram (ecog) were included in the epileptic group. the two-month-old wag/rij rats as well as two- and six-month-old wistar rats not exhibiting swp in ecog were selected as the non-epileptic. gene (rt-pcr) and protein expression (western blotting) of c-met receptors as well as c-met protein distribution (immunohistochemistry) in the somatosensory cortex and hippocampus were assessed during seizure development of the absence attacks. results: according to the study findings, a lower c-met gene and protein expression, as well as a lower protein distribution, were observed in the hippocampus (p < 0.001, p < 0.05, and p < 0.001, respectively) and cortex (p < 0.01, p < 0.001 and p < 0.001, respectively) of the two-month-old wag/rij rats compared to the same-age wistar rats. moreover, the data revealed a reduction of hippocampal and cortical c-met protein expression (p < 0.001, for both) in six-month-old wag/rij rats compared to two-month-old ones. six-month-old wag/rij rats had a lower cortical c-met gene (p < 0.05) and protein expression (p < 0.001) as well as lower hippocampal and cortical protein distribution (p < 0.05 and p < 0.001) than the same-age wistar rats. conclusions: in sum, the c-met receptor was found to play a significant role in the development of absence epilepsy. this receptor, therefore, may have been considered as an effective goal for absence seizure inhibition.