The regulation of neuronal nitric oxide synthase (NOS) mRNA levels during kindling epileptogenesis in the rat brain was investigated using in situ hybridization. Following 40 rapidly recurring seizures evoked by hippocampal stimulations, NOS mRNA expression decreased by 56% in the dentate granule cell layer (maximum at 2 h) and increased by 420,105 and 1260% in the CA1 and CA3 pyramidal layers and piriform cortex, respectively (maximum at 12-24 h). Gene expression had returned to control levels after one week. The presumed alterations of nitric oxide production, following the changes in NOS mRNA shown here, may modulate synaptic function during kindling development, and could influence neuronal vulnerability after epileptic insults.