Korean J Anat.  2007 Sep;40(3):219-225.

The Changes in the Expression of gamma-Aminobutyric Acid Related Enzymes in the Mouse Hippocampus Following Ketogenic Diet

• Noh HS
• Kwon OY
• Yun HJ
• Kang SS
• Cho GJ
• Choi WS

Abstract

The ketogenic diet (KD) has been used to treat intractable childhood epilepsy. However, its mechanism of action remains unknown. In the present study, we examined the effects of KD on the expression of multiple constituents of the GABAergic system in the hippocampus through immunohistochemistry and northern blot analysis. From the results, we have shown that KD increased expression of GABA and decreased GABA transporter1 (GABATp) and GABA transaminase (GABA-T) mRNA levels in the hippocampus. These results suggest that the neuroinhibitory effect of KD may be mediated, at least in part, by the increment of GABAergic activity in the hippocampus. KD may increase the GABA levels in the synaptic space by limiting GABA reuptake and in the presynaptic nerve terminal by inhibiting GABA degradation.

Keyword

Ketogenic diet; GABA; GABA transaminase; GABA transporter; Glutamate dehydrogenase

MeSH Terms

4-Aminobutyrate Transaminase
Animals
Blotting, Northern
Epilepsy
gamma-Aminobutyric Acid*
Glutamate Dehydrogenase
Hippocampus*
Immunohistochemistry
Ketogenic Diet*
Mice*
RNA, Messenger
4-Aminobutyrate Transaminase
Glutamate Dehydrogenase
RNA, Messenger
gamma-Aminobutyric Acid