Prodynorphin mRNA expression in the rat dentate gyrus after cerebral ischemia

Abstract The beneficial effects of exogenous κ receptor agonists in preventing neuronal damage elicited by brain ischemia suggest a role for endogenous dynorphins. In agreement prodynorphin (PDYN) gene expression in granule cells of the dentate gyrus detected by in situ hybridization was drastically but transiently decreased 18–32 h after fourvessel cerebral ischemia for 20 min in rats. We propose that decreased dynorphin synthesis and release could contribute to the delayed neuronal death of hippocampal pyramidal cells in this model.