ABSTRACT
ObjectiveTo investigate the effects of pentoxifylline (PTX) on oxidative stress in brains of epileptic (EP) rats based on the nuclear factor E2 related factor 2 (Nrf2) antioxidant response element (ARE) signal pathway.MethodsThirty-six healthy and adult male Wistar rats were included in the experiment and were divided into blank control group (peritoneal injection of isotonic saline), EP control group (induced EP episode), and PTX group (induced EP episode ＋ PTX pretreatment) according to a completely random method, then 12 rats in each group. The behavioral changes of rats in each group were monitored, and the EP attack rate and seizure latency were recorded. The rats were sacrificed to collect substantia nigra and hippocampus for testing oxidative stress indicators and expression levels of Nrf2 ARE signaling pathway-related proteins.ResultsNo abnormal reaction was observed in the control group after treatment. The EP attack rate in the EP control group reached 83.33%. The EP attack rate (33.3%) and the attack level ((2.14±0.40) vs (3.09±0.58)) in the PTX group were significantly lower than those in the EP control group, and the seizure latency was significantly longer than that in the EP control group (P0.05) ). The expression of substantia nigra tissue was significantly higher than that of the blank control group (P<0.05).ConclusionPTX can inhibit EP seizure and improve the oxidative stress in the brain of rats at the early stage of EP. The possible mechanism is that PTX can specifically activate Nrf2 ARE signaling pathway.