Neurobehavioral changes and the prevention effect by melatonin for neonatal rats with recurrent seizures / 中华行为医学与脑科学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To explore neurobehavioral changes in rats with recurrent seizures and the prevention effect of melatonin.Methods 6-day-old (P6) SD rats were randomly divided into four groups of 24 (n =6)the control group (CONT),melatonin per se group (MEL),recurrent neonatal seizure group (RS) and melatonin administration prior to RS group (RS + MEL).Rats in RS group were subjected to 5 seizures with flurothyl during the first 14 days of life.In RS + MEL group,melatonin was injected at 800 before seizures were induced.Neurobehavioral tests including Plane righting experiment,Cliff avoidance test,the grip-strength test and negative geotaxis test were implemented on P24,while open field test on P35.Results (1) Plane righting experimentthe time of plane righting in RS group ((0.33 ± 0.51)s) was significantly shorter than that in the CONT group ((1.17 ± 0.40) s) and RS + MEL group ((0.50 ± 0.54) s) (P ＜ 0.05).(2) Cliff avoidance testthe time of cliff avoidance in RS group ((16.00 ± 6.32) s) was significantly longer than that in CONT group ((4.00 ± 2.60) s)(P ＜ 0.01),while the time of cliff avoidance in RS + MEL group ((7.67 ± 3.26) s) was shorter than that in the RS group (P ＜ 0.05).(3) The grip-strength testcompared with CONT group ((49.50 ± 28.96) s),the time needed to hold on wire in RS group((11.67 ± 7.58)s)was significantly shorter (P ＜ 0.05) and longer in RS+ MEL group ((24.83 ± 6.61) s) (P ＜ 0.05).(4) Negative geotaxis testthe time for rats to turn 180° upward in RS group((7.67 ± 1.36) s) was longer than that in the CONT group ((4.50 ± 2.66) s) and RS + MEL group ((6.17 ± 0.75) s) (P ＜ 0.05).(5) Open field testthe time for rats to begin to run in the RS group ((8.17 ± 3.86) s) was longer than that in the CONT group ((3.00 ± 1.41) s) (P ＜ 0.05).Conclusion The neurobehaviors are damaged following flurothyl-induced recurrent neonatal seizures,and melatonin can reduce the neurobehavioral injury.