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BACKGROUND: Coriaria lactone-activated astrocytes released bioactive substances that eventually caused epilepsy.OBJECTIVE: It has been suggested that activated astrocytes alter the expression of the estrogen receptor and progesterone receptor by releasing bioactive substances during epilepsy, thereby affecting neuronal activity in the brain. This study was designed to observe the expression of the estrogen receptor and the progesterone receptor in rat brain following lateral ventricle injection of coriaria lactone-activated, astrocyte-conditioned medium.DESIGN AND SETTING: This immunohistochemical, randomized, controlled, animal study was conducted at the Department of Pathology, Hospital Affiliated to Binzhou Medical College, China.MATERIAL: Coriaria lactone was provided by Huaxi Pharmaceutical Factory, China.METHODS: Forty adult, healthy, male, Sprague Dawley rats were randomly assigned into two groups. Astrocyte-conditioned medium (10 μL) was injected into rat lateral ventricle in the control group (n = 8). Coriaria lactone-activated, astrocyte-conditioned medium (10 μL) was infused into the rat lateral ventricle in the coriaria lactone group (n = 32). At 2, 4, 8 and 12 hours following injection, rats were sacrificed and subjected to immunohistochemistry. Eight rats were studied at each time point.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Behavioral changes were observed in rats of both groups. Expression of the estrogen receptor and the progesterone receptor in rat cortical and hippocampal neurons was measured using immunohistochemistry.RESULTS: Four hours after injection, estrogen receptor levels in rat cortical and hippocampal neurons were significantly higher in the coriaria lactone group than in the control group (P < 0.05). Progesterone receptor levels were significantly lower in the coriaria lactone group than in the control group (P < 0.05). Seizures were not observed in the control group. In the coriaria lactone group, convulsions appeared 30 minutes after injection; seizures reached grade Ⅲ at 45 minutes; rat behavior was nearly normal at 2 hours.CONCLUSION: Activated astrocytes can induce seizures in the rat by enhancing estrogen receptor expression and decreasing progesterone receptor expression in cerebral cortical and hippocampal neurons.