Abstract: To observe the effect of topiramate (TPM) on the caspase3 expression in rat hippocampus following kanic acid(KA)induced status epilepticus (SE). Methods: SE was induced in adult male Wistar rats following gastric injection TPM (18?mg/kg·d-1) and abdominal injection of KA(10?mg/kg), and 3, 12, 24 and 48 hours later, HE staining and immunohistochemical staining were used to examine the caspase3 expression. Results: HE staining showed that acidophily neurons were the most in the period of 24～48?hours after SE, and caspase3 expression increased significantly in the same period but declined at 24and 48?hourtime points by TPM. Conclusion: In experimental SE model, the caspase3 expression increases 24 hours after SE but decreases by TPM, and therefore the brain damage is reduced.

Key words: Topiramate, Status epilepticus, Caspase