Anti-epileptogenic effect of beta-carotene and vitamin A in pentylenetetrazole-kindling model of epilepsy in mice.

Vitamin A (Vit A) and its derivatives have recently been reported to be implicated in synaptic plasticity. In this study, the possible effect of Vit A and its precursor, beta-carotene on acute seizure and kindling, induced by pentylenetetrazole (PTZ) was assessed. Vit A and beta-carotene were evaluated for their ability to: (1) elevate the threshold of clonic seizures induced by i.v. infusion of PTZ; (2) suppress the seizures (clonic and tonic) and lethality induced by i.p. PTZ in PTZ-kindled mice (anticonvulsant effect); (3) attenuate the development of sensitization to convulsive and lethal effects of i.p. PTZ in kindled mice (anti-epileptogenic effect). Diazepam was employed as positive control. All the drugs showed anti-epileptogenic effect against PTZ-induced tonic seizures and lethality. Vit A and beta-carotene had no effect on clonic seizures threshold and also on tonic seizures and lethality induced by PTZ in kindled mice. Non-genomic and genomic mechanisms could be involved in the anti-epileptogenic effect of Vit A and beta-carotene.