Antiepileptic effects of exenatide in penicillin induced acute epilepsy model in rats

417-423Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptors are widely expressed in the brain and its association with nitric oxide is suggestive of its role in epilepsy. In this study, we investigated the effects of exenatide, a glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist, on the epileptiform activity induced by penicillin injection. The study used 72 male Wistar albino rats in 9 groups. All groups except the last group which received only exenatide, received intracortical penicillin injection to induce epileptiform activity. Exenatide was intraperitoneally injected in II-IV groups, at doses of 50, 100, 200 μg/kg, respectively. Sodium nitroprusside (SNP) and Nω-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME) were injected to the V-VIII groups either alone or with exenatide. Electrocorticography was recorded for 3 h. While administration of 200 μg/kg exenatide reduced the frequency of epileptiform activity, 50 and 100 μg/kg doses of exenatide were not effective. When the effective dose of exenatide and the SNP were injected together the spike frequency decreased significantly. When the effective dose of exenatide was given with L-NAME spike frequency significantly decreased only between 90 and 110 min. There was no statistically significant difference in terms of latency and amplitude between the experimental groups. Exenatide had an anticonvulsant effect in penicillin-induced acute epilepsy model which is possibly via nitric oxide and include another pathway since its effect was partially blocked by L-NAME and potentiated by SNP

Protective effects of melatonin and omega-3 on the hippocampus and the cerebellum of adult Wistar albino rats exposed to electromagnetic fields

The purpose of the study was to investigate the effects of pulsed digital electromagnetic radiation emitted by mobile phones on the central nervous system of the adult Wistar albino rats. The study evaluated structural and functional impacts of four treatment arms: electromagnetic field (EMF) exposed; EMF exposed + melatonin treated group (EMF + Mel); EMF exposed + omega-3 (ω3) treated group (EMF + ω3); and control group (Cont). The 12-weeks-old rats were exposed to 900 MHz EMF for 60 min/day (4:00–5:00 p.m.) for 15 days. Stereological, biochemical and electrophysiological techniques were applied to evaluate protective effects of Mel and ω3. Significant cell loss in the CA1 and CA2 regions of hippocampus were observed in the EMF compared to other groups (p 0.05). The passive avoidance test showed that entrance latency into the dark compartment was significantly shorter in the EMF (p < 0.05). Additionally, EMF had a higher serum enzyme activity than the other groups (p < 0.01). In conclusion, our analyses confirm that EMF may lead to cellular damage in the hippocampus and the cerebellum, and that Mel and ω3 may have neuroprotective effects

Proconvulsant effect of papaverine on penicillin-induced epileptiform activity in rats

WOS: 000435231900022PubMed ID: 28944941AIM: Papaverine is a vasodilator agent that is an opium alkaloid. It exhibits its effects by inhibiting the phosphodiesterase enzyme. Papaverine administration is widely used to avoid symptomatic vasospasm after subarachnoid hemorrhage. We aimed, in this research, to study the effects of papaverine on the epileptic discharges stimulated by penicillin. MATERIAL and METHODS: Adult female Wistar rats (220 +/- 30 g) were included in this research (n= 30). Rats were anesthetized with urethane (1.25 g/kg) and then the left cerebral cortex was reached by opening a burr hole with a drill. Penicillin G sodium salt (500 IU)(200 IU/1 mu l) was injected into the left lateral ventricle to produce epileptiform activity. Thirty minutes before penicillin G sodium injection, papaverine was administered at doses of 5, 10, 20 or 40 mg/kg intraperitoneally. RESULTS: There was no significant difference in spike frequency between the control group and the groups given 5 mg/kg, 10 mg/kg or 40 mg/kg papaverine, while 20 mg/kg papaverine significantly increased the spike frequency (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: Papaverine augments the epileptiform activity produced by penicillin injection. It is important to remember that papaverine might induce convulsions in patients who have epilepsy. More research is required to understand the mechanisms of the proconvulsant influence of papaverine in epilepsy