Levodropropizine suppresses seizure activity in rats with pentylenetetrazol-induced epilepsy

P/Q type (Cav2.1) Calcium Channel Blocker ω-Agatoxin IVA Alters Cleaved Caspase-3 and BDNF Expressions in the Rat Brain and Suppresses Seizure Activity

High-voltage-gated calcium channels have pivot role in the cellular and molecular mechanisms of various neurological disorders, including epilepsy. Similar to other calcium channels, P/Q-type calcium channels (Cav2.1) are also responsible for vesicle release at synaptic terminals. Up to date, there are very limited reports showing the mechanisms of Cav2.1 in epileptogenesis. In the present study, we investigated the anticonvulsive and neuroprotective effects of ω-agatoxin IVA, a specific Cav2.1 blocker, in a chemical kindling model of epileptogenesis. Righting reflex and inclined plane tests were used to assess motor coordination. Electroencephalography was recorded for electrophysiological monitoring of seizure activity in freely moving rats. Immunohistochemical analyses were performed for brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and cleaved caspase-3 expressions in the prefrontal cortex, striatum, hippocampus, and thalamic nucleus. ω-Agatoxin IVA injected into the right lateral ventricle significantly prolonged the onset of seizures in a dose-dependent manner. In addition, repeated intraperitoneal administrations of ω-agatoxin IVA significantly suppressed the development of kindling and epileptic discharges without altering motor coordination. In addition, ω-agatoxin IVA significantly increased BDNF expressions, and decreased cleaved caspase-3 expressions in the brain when compared to PTZ + saline group. Our current study emphasizes the significance of the inhibition of P/Q type calcium channels by ω-agatoxin IVA, which suppresses the development of epileptogenesis and provides a new potential pathway for epilepsy treatment.

Effect of adropin on seizure activity in rats with penicillin-induced epilepsy

BACKGROUND

Epilepsy is a nervous system disease that affects millions of individuals worldwide, and up to 25% of patients have seizures that are resistant to antiepileptic drugs. Therefore, there is a need for the discovery of tolerable, effective antiepileptic agents. This study was aimed to electrophysiologically investigate the effects of the peptide hormone adropin, which was discovered in recent years and whose expression was determined in many organs, on penicillin-induced epileptiform activity in rats.

METHODS

Forty 16-18 weeks old 280-300 g female Wistar albino rats were divided into 5 groups, 8 in each group. 250 min of ECoG recordings were taken from the first group only under anesthesia. Penicillin was given to the second group, L-arginine to the third group, adropin to the fourth group, and these three substances to the fifth group, and records were taken for 250 min and statistically evaluated.

RESULTS

Measurements were made as spike frequency, amplitude values, spike percent change, amplitude percent change. It was determined that the substances given on penicillin-induced acute epilepsy reduced both the number and severity of epileptic seizures. The lowest values were obtained from the L-arginine group, second from the mixture group, and third from the adropin group.

CONCLUSIONS

Although the hormone adropin was not as effective as L-arginine on seizure activity, it can be said that it has a positive effect in terms of antiepileptic activity.

The Effects of Proton Pump Inhibitors (Pantoprazole) on Pentylenetetrazole-Induced Epileptic Seizures in Rats and Neurotoxicity in the SH-SY5Y Human Neuroblastoma Cell Line

Recent studies have shown that proton pump inhibitors have positive effects on the nervous system. However, its effect on epileptic seizure and neuronal damage are still unclear. In this study, it was aimed to investigate the effect of pantoprazole on pentylenetetrazole-induced epileptic seizures in rats and neurotoxicity in the SH-SY5Y cell line. Animals were divided into three groups: control, saline (1 mL/kg serum physiologic), and pantoprazole (10 mg/kg). Pentylenetetrazole (45 mg/kg) was given to induce a seizure and a passive avoidance test trial was carried out to evaluate memory function. 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG), caspase-3, and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) levels were measured in the brain by commercial kits. SH-SY5Y cells were treated with saline or pantoprazole for one hour, and then pentylenetetrazole (30 µm) was added to the medium to induce neurotoxicity. After 24 h, cell viability, total antioxidant, total oxidant status, and apoptosis were measured in SH-SY5Y cells. It was found that pantoprazole treatment postponed epileptic seizure onset, protected memory, reduced 8-OHdG, caspase-3, and also increased BDNF in the brain. In addition, it blocked pentylenetetrazole toxicity, apoptosis, increased antioxidant, and decreased oxidant status in SH-SY5Y cells. Pantoprazole significantly improved seizure, oxidative stress, and apoptosis. Thus, pantoprazole could be used as a supportive therapeutic agent in epilepsy.

Chronic exercise buffers the cognitive dysfunction and decreases the susceptibility to seizures in PTZ-treated rats

Epilepsy is a serious neurological disorder posing a severe burden to our society. Cognitive deficits are very common comorbidities of epilepsy. It is known that enhanced cognition has been demonstrated as an indicator for successful treatment of epilepsy. Physical exercise shows a positive consequence on cognition in healthy individuals and improves health and life conditions in people with epilepsy. However, there is no direct evidence to determine the role and the potential mechanism of physical exercise on the cognitive impairment and the relationship of susceptibility to seizures. The goal of the current investigation was to explore whether sustained physical exercise improves the cognitive dysfunction and simultaneously decreases the susceptibility to seizures in rats with epilepsy. Rats were treated with pentylenetetrazole (PTZ) (35 mg/kg, i.p. [intraperitoneally]) for 36 days to induce chronic epilepsy. During the induction period, rats were exposed to voluntary wheel running or forced swimming 30 min prior to each PTZ injection from the 16th day. The cognition of rats was evaluated by object recognition test and passive avoidance test. The susceptibility to seizures was evaluated by seizure frequency and duration. The levels of synaptic-related proteins including PSD95 (postsynaptic density 95), Synapsin, GluA1, and BDNF (brain-derived neurotrophic factor) were measured to evaluate the hippocampal synaptic plasticity. Furthermore, the GAD67 (glutamic acid decarboxylase) levels and GABA (γ-aminobutyric acid)ergic function in PTZ-treated rats were also determined. Finally, antagonist of GABA_AR (GABA_A receptors) bicuculline was used to explore the reversal effects of physical activity on seizures and cognition. The results showed that rats subjected to voluntary wheel running or forced swimming showed a significant reduction of seizure frequency and duration in PTZ-treated group relative to rats without running or swimming. In addition, both running and swimming improved cognitive function as measured by enhanced performance in object recognition test and passive avoidance test. Furthermore, the reduced levels of synaptic-related proteins and GABAergic function were reversed by exercise compared with rats without exercise. Moreover, antagonism of hippocampal CA3 (cornu ammonis 3) GABAergic neurons blocks the reversal effects of physical activity on seizures and cognition in PTZ-treated rats. These data showed that chronic physical exercise reduced the frequency of seizures and improved the cognitive function in a rat model of chronic epilepsy through normalization of CA3 synaptic plasticity and GABAergic function. Our findings suggest that chronic physical exercise has beneficial effects on controlling seizure through enhancement of cognition and highlights the possibility to translate into reduced seizure recurrence in people with epilepsy.