Fig. 3

P2RX7 knockdown exerts anticonvulsant effects and attenuates hippocampal neuronal loss in a mouse model. A A schematic diagram of murine models. B, C Western blots and quantification for comparing the protein levels of P2RX7 in control mice, sh-P2RX7 mice and sh-Con mice. P2RX7 was downregulated in the sh-P2RX7 group compared to the control and sh-Con groups. D The relative mRNA levels of P2RX7 in the sh-P2RX7 group compared to the control and the sh-Con groups. E–G The average seizure-stage score reached 4.75 ± 0.46 in the KA group vs. 3.00 ± 0.76 in the sh-P2RX7 + KA group (E). F The latency of epileptiform activity (F, 9.13 ± 1.42 in the sh-P2RX7 + KA group vs. 4.09 ± 0.80 in the KA group) and an average epileptiform duration of the first seizure (G, 5.59 ± 2.24 in sh-P2RX7 + KA group vs. 8.92 ± 0.95 in KA group). H Representative 5-min EEG recordings from the hippocampus (after 14 days of KA injection) showed spontaneous electrographic seizures in the KA and sh-P2RX7 + KA group. I The number of SRS recorded after 14 days of KA injection, demonstrating that the sh-P2RX7 + KA group had a lesser number of seizures than those of the KA group. J The mean SRSs duration of sh-P2RX7 + KA group was significantly shorter than that of the KA group. K–M Representative images of H&E and Nissl staining in the CA1, CA3 and DG areas. L, N Semiquantitative analysis of cell number (% of control). Scale bars = 100 μm. All data are expressed as the mean ± SD. *p < 0.05, **p < 0.01