Protective Effect of Resveratrol against Kainate-induced Temporal Lobe Epilepsy in Rats

Abstract

Resveratrol (Res) is a phytoalexin produced naturally by several plants, which has multi functional effects such as neuroprotection, anti-inflammatory, and anti-cancer. The present study was to evaluate a possible anti-epileptic effect of Res against kainate-induced temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) in rat. We performed behavior monitoring, intracranial electroencepholography (IEEG) recording, histological analysis, and Western blotting to evaluate the anti-epilepsy effect of Res in kainate-induced epileptic rats. Res decreased the frequency of spontaneous seizures and inhibited the epileptiform discharges. Moreover, Res could protect neurons against kainate-induced neuronal cell death in CA1 and CA3a regions and depressed mossy fiber sprouting, which are general histological characteristics both in TLE patients and animal models. Western blot revealed that the expression level of kainate receptors (KARs) in hippocampus was reduced in Res-administrated rats compared to that in epileptic ones. These results suggest that Res is a potent anti-epilepsy agent, which protects against epileptogenesis and progression of the kainate-induced TLE animal.

Antiepileptogenic effect of curcumin on kainate-induced model of temporal lobe epilepsy

“…In this study, a massive neuronal loss was found in the CA1, CA3 and hilar regions in the kainate group. Furthermore, typical aberrant mossy fibers invading into the granule cell layer and granule cell inner molecular layer in the hippocampus of these rats were noticed, which was consistent with previous studies (Wu et al, 2009) Severe reduction in the number of neurons in the hilar region and neuronal dispersion in the upper blade (white arrow) were observed in the kainate group, but no such marked changes were prominent in the curcumin-pretreated kainate group. *p50.05, **p50.01, ***p50.005 (in comparison with sham); #p50.05, ##p50.005 (in comparison with kainate) (n ¼ 4-5).…”

“…The sections were then dehydrated and cover slipped. Assessment of MFS (as Timm index) was obtained from the absolute value of the area of Timm granules divided by the length of DG (Wu et al, 2009). The Timm index for each animal was the mean of three sections.…”

The Potential of Antiseizure Drugs and Agents that Act on Novel Molecular Targets as Antiepileptogenic Treatments

“…The incidence and rate of spontaneous seizures was markedly reduced in the resveratrol treatment group. The effect on seizures was associated with neuroprotection in the hippocampus, as well as a reduction in mossy fiber sprouting [101]. These promising results were not fully confirmed in a more recent study of younger kainate-treated rats [102], so that, at present, the potential of resveratrol for disease modification in epilepsy is uncertain.…”

“…Some, but not all, recent experimental studies also suggest that resveratrol may have utility in epilepsy [100]. Wu et al [101] examined the effects of resveratrol treatment on the occurrence of spontaneous seizures following SE induced by intrahippocampal kainate injection in rats. The incidence and rate of spontaneous seizures was markedly reduced in the resveratrol treatment group.…”

Neuroprotective Effect of Resveratrol Against Glutamate-Induced Excitotoxicity

“…Res or trans-Res has a neuroprotective effect against KA-induced convulsions and the attenuation of raised malondialdehyde levels, and markedly decreases spontaneous seizure frequency, suggesting that Res may be a potential anti-epilepsy agent, at least as an adjunct treatment in KA-induced epilepsy animal models [32,33]. The chronic administration of Res significantly protects against KA-induced damage in the rat hippocampus and olfactory cortex, whereas the same treatment with Res does not play a protective role in an ex vivo hippocampal ischemia model [34].…”