Objective To investigate if the cell death in hippocampus can occur after single and kindled audiogenic seizure,and the pertinent mechanisms involved. Methods HE staining was used to show the distribution of the dead cells and the immunocytochemistry was used to show the expression of the apoptosis\|related proteins Bcl\|2 and Bax. Results After single audiogenic seizure,there were a few dead cells in hippocampus.After kindled seizure a lots of pyknotic,acidophilic cells were found in hippocampal CA\-1,CA\-2,CA\-4 subregions and the granular layer of dentate gyrus.The CA (corrected optic density) values of Bax immunoreactivities in CA\-2 and CA\-4 subregions were increased significantly in kindled rats, in contrast with that in control rats.Conclusions\ Audiogenic kindling can induce marked cell death in hippocampus.Apoptosis may be one of the mechanisms underling this kind of cell death.