Protective Effects of Anthocleista djalonensis Extracts against Pentylenetetrazole-Induced Epileptic Seizures and Neuronal Cell Loss: Role of Antioxidant Defense System

Oxidative stress and neurodegeneration are involved in the initiation of epileptogenesis and progression of epileptic seizures. This study was aimed at investigating the anticonvulsant, antioxidant, and neuroprotective properties of active fractions isolated from Anthocleista djalonensis root barks in pentylenetetrazole mouse models of epileptic seizures. Bioactive-guided fractionation of Anthocleista djalonensis (AFAD) extracts using acute pentylenetetrazole (90 mg/kg) induced generalised tonic-clonic seizures, which afforded a potent anticonvulsant fraction (FPool 5). Further fractionation of AFAD was performed by high-performance liquid chromatography, which yielded fifteen subfractions, which were chemically characterised. In addition, AFAD was tested against convulsions or spontaneous kindled seizures induced, respectively, by acute (50 mg/kg) or subchronic (30 mg/kg) injection of pentylenetetrazole. Finally, oxidative stress markers, brain GABA content, and neuronal cell loss were evaluated in AFAD-treated pentylenetetrazole-kindled mice. Administration of AFAD significantly protected mice against acute pentylenetetrazole (90 mg/kg)-induced convulsions. In acute pentylenetetrazole (50 mg/kg)-induced hippocampal and cortical paroxysmal discharges, AFAD significantly decreased the number of crisis, the cumulative duration of crisis, and the mean duration of crisis. Additionally, AFAD significantly decreased the number of myoclonic jerks and improved the seizure score in subchronic pentylenetetrazole-induced kindled seizures. The pentylenetetrazole-induced alteration of oxidant-antioxidant balance, GABA concentration, and neuronal cells in the brain were attenuated by AFAD treatment. This study showed that AFAD protected mice against pentylenetetrazole-induced epileptic seizures possibly through the enhancement of antioxidant defence and GABAergic signalling. These events might be correlated with the amelioration of neuronal cell loss; hence, AFAD could be a potential candidate for the treatment of epilepsy.

To Stop the Seizure, You Must Become the Seizure: Closed-Loop Stimulation Phase Locked to Seizure Waves Disrupts Kindled Seizures While Open-Loop Stimulation Fails

[Box: see text]

EFFECTS OF SILVER NANOPARTICLES ON PENTYLENETETRAZOL-INDUCED KINDLED SEIZURES IN RATS

Silver nanoparticles are used for delivering neurotropic agents to brain, increasing the bioavailability of insoluble drugs as well as for brain tumours treatment. Their effects upon brain excitability, especially under conditions of chronic epilepsy modelling are underinvestigated. The purpose of the study was to study the effects of silver nanoparticles upon pentylenetetrazol-induced kindled seizures in rats. Material and Methods. Experiments were performed on Wistar rats kindled during four weeks with pentylenetetrazol administrations in a dose of 30.0 mg/kg, i.p. Only rats, which demonstrated generalized clonic-tonic seizures in a response to each of three last epileptogen injections, were included into the study. Nanoparticles and ionized argentum were administered in a dosage of 0.2 mg/kg, i.p. Observation was performed in early and postponed period of kindling – in 24 h and three weeks from the moment of kindling induction, correspondently. Results and discussion. The calculation of the pentylenetetrazol dose, which effectively induced seizures in 50 % of kindled rats (ED50), was performed in kindled animals in 24 h from the moment of last epileptogen administration was 22.0 mg/kg. In postponed period of kindling (three weeks from the moment of last pentylenetetrazol administration in a dose of 30.0 mg/kg, i.p.), ED50 of pentylenetetrazol was 16.0 mg/kg. ED50 of pentylenetetrazol, which induced clonic seizures in 50 % animals at the early stage of kindling, was recalculated following the administration of ionized and nanoparticle forms of silver, and were less when compared with such ones determined in the control group by 13.5 % (P>0,05) and 26.0 % (P<0,05), respectively. In the postponed period of kindling ED50 of ionized and nanoparticle forms of silver were less when compared with control by 20.0 % (P<0.05) and by 42.0 %, respectively (P<0.05). Significant difference was noted between groups treated with ionized and nanoparticle silver (P<0.05). The net intensification of pentylenetetrazol seizure manifestations was seen in kindled rats treated with silver nanoparticles, when seizure discharges amplitude achieved 1.0-1.2 mV and frequency of 3/sec, which exceeded the ones in rats treated with ionized silver. Conclusion. Silver nanoparticles induce the increase in seizures severity in pentylenetetrazol-kindled rats, and this effect was more pronounced at the postponed stage of kindling development.