ABSTRACT
The 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 min 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. L-argenine 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. |
