Blockade of pilocarpine- or kainate-induced mossy fiber sprouting by cycloheximide does not prevent subsequent epileptogenesis in rats

Post-injury sprouting of hippocampal messy fibers has been suggested to be a causal mechanism underlying the development of temporal lobe epilepsy. However, this hypothesis rests entirely on indirect correlational evidence. Here we demonstrate that cycloheximide, a protein synthesis inhibitor, blocked pilocarpine- and kainate-induced messy fiber sprouting in rats, bur did not prevent the subsequent development of spontaneous seizures or affect their frequency. These results provide direct evidence against a causal role for messy fiber sprouting in temporal lobe epileptogenesis. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd.