Correlation between electroconvulsive seizure and HSC70 mRNA induction in mice brain

The effects of electroconvulsive seizure and anti-convulsant drugs on induction of mRNA of heat shock protein were studied in mouse brain. Electrical shock induced mRNA of heat shock cognate protein (HSC70), but not heat shock protein (HSP70) mRNA. The induction was maximum 1 h after the ECS and continued for several hours, followed by long-lasting depression. Diazepam slightly prevented the ECS, but strongly attenuated the induction of HSC70 mRNA. Whereas phenytoin, which blocked the seizure, did not decrease but delayed the induction of HSC70 mRNA. The present results suggest that HSC70 mRNA level is increased with the ECS and that the induction level did not necessarily correlate the severity of the seizure.