Neurochemical evidence based suggested therapy for safe management of epileptogenesis

Navjot Kaur, Tanveer Singh, Sandeep Kumar, Rajesh Kumar Goel

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

12 Scopus citations

Abstract

Most of the clinically available antiepileptic drugs have only antiseizure effects and are reported unable to prevent epileptogenesis. In the past decade, several drugs underwent clinical trials for management of epileptogenesis, but none of the drugs tested was found effective. One of the major lacunas is availability of appropriate preclinical approaches to delineate mechanisms of epileptogenesis. Thus, the present study attempts to suggest a neurochemistry based approach for safe management of epileptogenesis. The altered neurochemical milieu in amygdala, cortex and hippocampus areas of the mice brain in naïve, kindled and kindling resistant animals has been delineated. The endogenous natural antiepileptogenic neurochemical defense mechanism observed in kindling resistant animals may uncover neurochemical mechanisms of epileptogenesis and in turn suggest us novel interventions for safe management of epileptogenesis. The kindling epileptogenesis was carried out in two month old male Swiss albino mice by administering subconvulsive pentylenetetrazole (35 mg/kg; i.p.) at an interval of 48 ± 2 h for 42 days. 2 h after the last pentylenetetrazole injection, the animals were subjected to behavioral evaluations. Four hours after behavioral evaluation, all animals were euthanized and discrete parts of brain (amygdala, cortex and hippocampus) were harvested for neurochemical analysis. Results revealed that 60% of animals responded to kindling as observed with decreased seizure threshold, while the rest were found resistant. The kindled animals were found to be associated with anxiety, depression and cognitive impairment; while in kindling resistant animals no such behavioral deficits were observed. The neurochemical analysis revealed that in kindled animals altered glutamate–GABA neurotransmission, and decreased taurine, glycine, D-serine, monoamine levels with elevated indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase activity were observed, which may be convicted for progression of kindling epileptogenesis. However, in kindling resistant animals elevated GABA, taurine, tryptophan, serotonin, glycine, and D-serine levels with decreased indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase activity were observed as natural endogenous antiepileptogenic mechanisms, which may be foreseen as safe pharmacological targets for management of epileptogenesis.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)8-16
Number of pages9
JournalEpilepsy and Behavior
Volume72
DOIs
StatePublished - Jul 2017
Externally publishedYes

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2017 Elsevier Inc.

Funding

The authors are grateful to the Department of Biotechnology, New Delhi, India for providing funding (under DBT-IPLS scheme; Grant no: BT/PR4548/INF/22/146/2012) for creating central technical facilities required for present research work in Punjabi University, Patiala. The authors are also deeply grateful to the Indian Council of Medical Research, Ansari Nagar, New Delhi, India for providing financial assistance and direct senior research fellowship (SRF) Grant no: BIC/11(02)/2015 to Mr. Tanveer Singh.

FundersFunder number
DBT-IPLSBT/PR4548/INF/22/146/2012
Department of Biotechnology, Ministry of Science and Technology, India
Indian Council of Medical ResearchBIC/11(02)/2015

    Keywords

    • D-Serine
    • Epileptogenesis
    • Indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase
    • Kindling epileptogenesis
    • Serotonin
    • Taurine

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