Effect of acute pentylenetetrazol injection induced epileptic seizures on rat dentate gyrus at different postnatal ages

Abstract

Epilepsy is one of the most common neurological disorders, its prevalence approximately from 0.5% to 2% of the general population. Generalized seizures could lead to several morphological changes in the brain. This study aimed to investigate the morphological effects of a single convulsive dose of pentylenetetrazol (PTZ) on rat dentate gyrus at different postnatal ages. Thirty-six male Wistar rats were used at the following postnatal ages: P10, P21, and P90 (12 rats per each age). The animals in each age were equally divided into two groups: group I, control and group II, treated with a single intraperitoneal injection of PTZ (55 mg/kg). After confirmation of generalized tonic-clonic seizures, specimens from the right dentate gyrus were processed for light and electron microscopy. In PTZ-treated groups, the number of granule cells significantly decreased. Dark granule cells appeared in the deep layers of the granule cells in P10 and with the progress of age, they significantly increased in number and extended into the superficial layers of the granule cells. The dendritic spines diminished. Glial fibrillary acidic protein and caspase-3 expression increased. Ultrastructurally, granule cells showed irregular shaped nucleus, dilated rough endoplasmic reticulum (RER) cisternae, mitochondria with damaged cristae, large vacuoles, lysosomes, and lipofuscin granules. Dark granule cells characterized by electron-dense nucleus and cytoplasm containing disorganized Golgi bodies, swollen mitochondria with damaged cristae, numerous free ribosomes and few long strands of RER. Astrocytes had hypertrophied cell body. Acute treatment with PTZ-induced epileptic seizures caused toxic effect on the structure of rat dentate gyrus at different postnatal ages.

Effects of Lacosamide Treatment on Epileptogenesis, Neuronal Damage and Behavioral Comorbidities in a Rat Model of Temporal Lobe Epilepsy

“…Temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) is a clinically prevalent type of partial epilepsy. Severe head injury, stroke, intracranial infections, brain tumors, or preceding status epilepticus (SE) are factors that can induce functional and chemical changes in the brain and development of epilepsy [ 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 ]. Due to alterations occurring during epileptogenesis, patients tend to develop various comorbidities such as cognitive and psychiatric disorders, which have a detrimental impact on their quality of life [ 6 ].…”

Parameters of Oxidative Stress and Behavior in Animals Treated with Dexametasone and Submitted to Pentylenetetrazol Kindling

“…It was possible to verify that DEXA acts in reducing not only the intensity of seizures, but also the onset time for seizures, reinforcing the possible anticonvulsant and neuroprotective role of this drug. 7 As for OS, no group differed from the control groups (vehicle and diazepam) in relation to TBARS levels; however, an increase in lipid peroxidation was found in the DEXA group 4 mg/kg compared to the DEXA 2 mg/kg group. The SOD enzyme catalyzes the dismutation of superoxide into oxygen and hydrogen peroxide and because of this, it is an important antioxidant defense.…”

“…In a previous study, we have already published the scores presented by the animals according to the Racine scale. 7 …”

Effect of cypermethrin on the postnatal development of the medulla oblongata and the possible protective role of melatonin in albino rats

“…In response to neuronal degeneration and loss, the astrocytes increased in an attempt to limit the oxidative damage and inflammation [ 30 , 31 ]. Mohamed and Eltony [ 32 ] revealed that the advanced astrogliosis might be a protective morphological change.…”