PURPOSE: Hypoxic-ischemic brain injury that occurs in the perinatal period is one of the leading causes of mental retardation, visual and auditory impairment, motor defects, epilepsy, cerebral palsy, and death in neonates. The severity of apoptosis that develops after ischemic hypoxia and reperfusion is an indication of brain injury. Thus, it may be possible to prevent or reduce injury with treatments that can be given before the reperfusion period following hypoxia and ischemia. Levetiracetam is a new-generation antiepileptic drug that has begun to be used in the treatment of epilepsy. METHODS: The present study investigated the effects of levetiracetam on neuronal apoptosis with histopathological and biochemical tests in the early period and behavioral experiments in the late period. RESULTS: This study showed histopathologically that levetiracetam reduces the number of apoptotic neurons and has a neuroprotective effect in a neonatal rat model of hypoxic-ischemic brain injury in the early period. On the other hand, we demonstrated that levetiracetam dose dependently improves behavioral performance in the late period. CONCLUSIONS: Based on these results, we believe that one mechanism of levetiracetam's neuroprotective effects is due to increases in glutathione peroxidase and superoxide dismutase enzyme levels. To the best of our knowledge, this study is the first to show the neuroprotective effects of levetiracetam in a neonatal rat model of hypoxic-ischemic brain injury using histopathological, biochemical, and late-period behavioral experiments within the same experimental group.
PURPOSE:Hypoxic-ischemic brain injury that occurs in the perinatal period is one of the leading causes of mental retardation, visual and auditory impairment, motor defects, epilepsy, cerebral palsy, and death in neonates. The severity of apoptosis that develops after ischemic hypoxia and reperfusion is an indication of brain injury. Thus, it may be possible to prevent or reduce injury with treatments that can be given before the reperfusion period following hypoxia and ischemia. Levetiracetam is a new-generation antiepileptic drug that has begun to be used in the treatment of epilepsy. METHODS: The present study investigated the effects of levetiracetam on neuronal apoptosis with histopathological and biochemical tests in the early period and behavioral experiments in the late period. RESULTS: This study showed histopathologically that levetiracetam reduces the number of apoptotic neurons and has a neuroprotective effect in a neonatal rat model of hypoxic-ischemic brain injury in the early period. On the other hand, we demonstrated that levetiracetam dose dependently improves behavioral performance in the late period. CONCLUSIONS: Based on these results, we believe that one mechanism of levetiracetam's neuroprotective effects is due to increases in glutathione peroxidase and superoxide dismutase enzyme levels. To the best of our knowledge, this study is the first to show the neuroprotective effects of levetiracetam in a neonatal rat model of hypoxic-ischemic brain injury using histopathological, biochemical, and late-period behavioral experiments within the same experimental group.
Authors: Petra Bittigau; Marco Sifringer; Kerstin Genz; Ellen Reith; Dana Pospischil; Suresh Govindarajalu; Mark Dzietko; Stefanie Pesditschek; Ingrid Mai; Krikor Dikranian; John W Olney; Chrysanthy Ikonomidou Journal: Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A Date: 2002-11-04 Impact factor: 11.205
Authors: Zachary M Grinspan; Renée A Shellhaas; Jason Coryell; Joseph E Sullivan; Elaine C Wirrell; John R Mytinger; William D Gaillard; Eric H Kossoff; Ignacio Valencia; Kelly G Knupp; Courtney Wusthoff; Cynthia Keator; Nicole Ryan; Tobias Loddenkemper; Catherine J Chu; Edward J Novotny; John Millichap; Anne T Berg Journal: JAMA Pediatr Date: 2018-04-01 Impact factor: 16.193
Authors: Jennifer C Keene; Mark Wainwright; Lindsey A Morgan; Ulrike Mietzsch; Ndidi Musa; Xiuhua L Bozarth; Niranjana Natarajan Journal: J Pediatr Pharmacol Ther Date: 2022-03-21