present study aims to investigate the involvement of nitric oxide (NO) in the convulsive state induced by
pentylenetetrazole (PTZ). Moreover, to evaluate the anticonvulsant effects of resveratrol on nitric oxide alternation in the
PTZ induced epilepsy in rats. Adult male albino rats were divided into 8 groups: control group (CN), PTZ induced epileptic
non treated rats, epileptic rats treated with L-argenine (NO precursor) 30 mm prior to convulsant state with PTZ, epileptic
rats treated with N (G) nitro L-argenine (L-NOARG) (NO synthtase inhibitor) 30min prior to convulsive state, epileptic
rats treated with resveratrol 30 min before induction of experimental epilepsy with PTZ, epileptic rats treated with
coadministration of L-argenine and resvestrol 30 min prior to convulsive state induced by PTZ, epileptic rats treated with
coadministration of L-NORAG and resveratrol 30 min prior to convulsive state induced by PTZ, and epileptic rats treated
with coadministration of L-argenine, L-NORAG and resveratrol 30 min prior to convulsive state. The latency and duration
of tonic-clonic seizures were recorded. Present work revealed that convulsive state induced by PTZ resulted in significant
elevation (p<0.05) of NOx (NO metabolites, NO2- plus NO3 as indices of NO generation), compared with normal rats. Largenine
induced significant elevation (P<0.05) in cortical NOx and non-significant increase in the duration of clonic
seizures, but both L-NORG and resveratrol significantly reduce (p<0.05) both cortical NOx and duration of clonic seizures
compared with epileptic treated group. Combined administration of L-argenine and resveratrol resulted in significant
increase of both cortical NOx and duration of clonic seizures compared with resveratrol treated epileptic group. Moreover,
combined administration of L-NOARG and resveratrol resulted in significant reduction (P<0.05) of both cortical NOx and
duration of clonic seizures. The last result was reversed by co-administration of L-argenine to L-NOARG and resveratrol
which resulted in significant increase of cortical NOx and the duration of clonic seizures. This study reflects that NO has a
significant effect on the PTZ- induced seizures. Moreover, the involvement of NO pathway in the mechanism of action of
resveratrol seems probable, since the effect of NOSi was reversed by L-argenine. The present data promising
anticonvulsant and potent antioxidant effects of resveratrol in reducing nitric oxide and induction of seizures in epileptic
animals.
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