Faezeh Eslami1,2, Maryam Shayan1,2, Arash Amanlou1,3, Nastaran Rahimi1,2, Pegah Dejban1,2,4, Ahmad Reza Dehpour5,6. 1. Experimental Medicine Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. 2. Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, P.O. Box 13145-784, Tehran, Iran. 3. Faculty of Specialized Veterinary Science, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran. 4. Division of Nephrology and Hypertension, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA. 5. Experimental Medicine Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. dehpour@yahoo.com. 6. Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, P.O. Box 13145-784, Tehran, Iran. dehpour@yahoo.com.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Non-deleterious episodes of seizure preconditioning can efficiently increase the brain's resistance to the consequent severe status epilepticus (SE). In the present investigation, we intended to elucidate further (i) the effects of preconditioning with pentylenetetrazole (PTZ) in the lithium-pilocarpine model of SE in male rats, along with (ii) the possible contribution of opioid, N-Methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors, and nitric oxide (NO) signaling transduction. METHODS: In male Wistar rats, the SE was incited by lithium administration (127 mg/kg, ip) 20 h before pilocarpine (60 mg/kg, ip). PTZ preconditioning was induced via a low-dose injection of PTZ (25 mg/kg) for 5 repeated days. To investigate the underlying signaling pathway, naltrexone (NTX; a non-specific opioid receptor antagonist), MK-801 (NMDA antagonist), L-NAME (a non-specific nitric oxide synthase (NOS) inhibitor), aminoguanidine (AG; a specific inducible NOS inhibitor), and 7-Nitroindazole (7-NI; a specific neuronal NOS inhibitor) were administered 15 min before PTZ injection. RESULTS: Preconditioning with PTZ successfully ameliorates the increased SE scores due to lithium-pilocarpine-induced SE (p < 0.05). None of the drugs given without PTZ preconditioning had an impact on SE outcomes. The observed anti-convulsant effect of PTZ preconditioning is reversed by the opioid receptor antagonists and NOS inhibitors. Conversely, the NMDA receptor antagonist enhanced the anti-convulsion activity caused by PTZ preconditioning. Quantifying nitrite level in the hippocampus showed a significant NO level decline in the PTZ-preconditioned animals. CONCLUSIONS: Therefore, PTZ preconditioning generates endogenous protection against SE, possibly through targeting opioid/NMDA receptors and NO signaling transduction in the animal model of lithium-pilocarpine-induced SE.
BACKGROUND: Non-deleterious episodes of seizure preconditioning can efficiently increase the brain's resistance to the consequent severe status epilepticus (SE). In the present investigation, we intended to elucidate further (i) the effects of preconditioning with pentylenetetrazole (PTZ) in the lithium-pilocarpine model of SE in male rats, along with (ii) the possible contribution of opioid, N-Methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors, and nitric oxide (NO) signaling transduction. METHODS: In male Wistar rats, the SE was incited by lithium administration (127 mg/kg, ip) 20 h before pilocarpine (60 mg/kg, ip). PTZ preconditioning was induced via a low-dose injection of PTZ (25 mg/kg) for 5 repeated days. To investigate the underlying signaling pathway, naltrexone (NTX; a non-specific opioid receptor antagonist), MK-801 (NMDA antagonist), L-NAME (a non-specific nitric oxide synthase (NOS) inhibitor), aminoguanidine (AG; a specific inducible NOS inhibitor), and 7-Nitroindazole (7-NI; a specific neuronal NOS inhibitor) were administered 15 min before PTZ injection. RESULTS: Preconditioning with PTZ successfully ameliorates the increased SE scores due to lithium-pilocarpine-induced SE (p < 0.05). None of the drugs given without PTZ preconditioning had an impact on SE outcomes. The observed anti-convulsant effect of PTZ preconditioning is reversed by the opioid receptor antagonists and NOS inhibitors. Conversely, the NMDA receptor antagonist enhanced the anti-convulsion activity caused by PTZ preconditioning. Quantifying nitrite level in the hippocampus showed a significant NO level decline in the PTZ-preconditioned animals. CONCLUSIONS: Therefore, PTZ preconditioning generates endogenous protection against SE, possibly through targeting opioid/NMDA receptors and NO signaling transduction in the animal model of lithium-pilocarpine-induced SE.
Authors: Xia Zhang; Shu-Sen Cui; Amy E Wallace; Darren K Hannesson; Larry C Schmued; Deborah M Saucier; William G Honer; Michael E Corcoran Journal: J Neurosci Date: 2002-07-15 Impact factor: 6.167
Authors: I M Najm; J Hadam; D Ckakraverty; N Mikuni; C Penrod; C Sopa; G Markarian; H O Lüders; T Babb; M Baudry Journal: Brain Res Date: 1998-11-09 Impact factor: 3.252