The Roles of Dominance of the Nitric Oxide Fractions Nitrate and Nitrite in the Epilepsy-Prone EL Mouse Brain

Abstract

Background: Oxidative stress is thought to be closely related to epileptogenesis. We have previously reported that nitric oxide (NO) levels are higher in epilepsy-prone EL mice between the ages of 3 and 8 weeks than in control mice. However, NO is divided into two fractions, nitrite (NO2) and nitrate (NO3), which appear to play different roles in epileptogenesis.Methods: NO2 and NO3 levels were measured, in EL mice and the control mice, in the parietal cortex, which is thought to be the primary epileptogenetic center in EL mice, and measured in the hippocampus, which is thought to be the secondary center.Results: NO3 levels in the hippocampus and parietal cortex of the immature EL mice (3 to 8 weeks of age) were significantly higher than those in the control mice; NO2 levels were significantly higher in the EL mice throughout the study period. The NO3 levels were significantly higher than the NO2 levels in the immature EL mice, but after the onset of ictogenesis at 10 weeks of age, the relative levels of the two fractions reversed. Conclusion:The reversal of the NO fraction distribution at the onset of seizures that we observed may be related to the developmental process of seizure susceptibility in the neural network of EL mice.

Investigation of efficacy of asenapine on passive avoidance learning and memory and oxidative stress in animal model of seizure-induced with pentylenetetrazole

“…In the present study, the results showed a decrease in the GSH and an increase in NO serum levels following PTZ injection. The present study, similar to various prior studies, showed that the injection of PTZ in animal models increases OS and NO and decreases antioxidant levels (Hosseini et al 2021;Kawakami et al 2021;Kumar et al 2018). Glutathione as an antioxidant helps protect cells against free radical damage.…”

“…People with atherosclerosis, diabetes, and high blood pressure often manifest NO pathway disorders (Ghimire et al 2017). NO has also been reported to be increased in PTZ-induced seizures (Kawakami et al 2021). The effects of ASE on NO and GSH have not been reported in the status epilepticus condition, but in a previous study, ASE modulate inducible NOS (iNOS) and protected porcine coronary endothelial cells against oxidative stress by preventing ROS production and GSH loss (Grossini et al 2014).…”