The effect of alpha-tocopherol in the acute ethanol intake and its withdrawal on penicillin-induced epilepsy


Kozan R., Ayyıldız M., Yildirim M., Ağar E.

ACTA NEUROBIOLOGIAE EXPERIMENTALIS, vol.69, no.2, pp.177-188, 2009 (SCI-Expanded) identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 69 Issue: 2
  • Publication Date: 2009
  • Journal Name: ACTA NEUROBIOLOGIAE EXPERIMENTALIS
  • Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus
  • Page Numbers: pp.177-188
  • Keywords: acute, ECoG, epileptiform activity, ethanol, penicillin, alpha-tocopherol, INDUCED EPILEPTIFORM ACTIVITY, SPRAGUE-DAWLEY RATS, VITAMIN-E, INDUCED CONVULSIONS, NITRIC-OXIDE, ANTICONVULSANT, SEIZURES, ALCOHOL, BRAIN, PENTYLENETETRAZOL
  • Ondokuz Mayıs University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

The present study was designed to investigate the influence of acute ethanol intake and its withdrawal on the anticonvulsant effect of alpha-tocopherol in penicillin-induced epileptiform activity. Ethanol-treated rats received a daily dose of 3 g/kg or 9.0 g/kg of 30% ethanol solution for 3 days. Thirty minutes after penicillin injection (500 units, i.c.), the most effective dose of alpha-tocopherol (500 mg/kg) was administered intramuscularly (i.m.). Acute administration of ethanol, in a dose of 3 g/kg, did not change either frequency or amplitude of penicillin-induced epileptiform activity, while dose of 9 g/kg ethanol significantly decreased the mean frequency of penicillin-induced epileptiform ECoG activity in the ethanol-treated group. Ethanol (9 g/kg) withdrawal also caused an increase in the amplitude of epileptiform ECoG activity in the withdrawal group. The results suggest that acute administration of high dose ethanol (9 g/kg) and alpha-tocopherol have some limited anticonvulsive effects in penicillin-induced epileptiform activity in rats.