ABSTRACT
The objective of the study was to evaluate the caffeic acid (CA) effects against the oxidative stress (OS) observed during seizures. Wistar rats were intraperitoneally treated with either 0.9% saline (control), CA (4 mg/kg), pilocarpine (400 mg/kg, pilocarpine group), or the association of CA (4 mg/kg) plus pilocarpine (400 mg/kg). The thiobarbituric-acid-reacting substances and the hippocampal nitrite content were significantly increased (89 and 94%, respectively) in pilocarpine group when compared with control. There were marked decreases in lipid peroxidation level (43%) and nitrite content (45%) in CA group when compared with pilocarpine group. There were no marked alterations in superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) activities in pilocarpine group; however, the SOD and CAT activities were significantly increased (35 and 51%, respectively) after CA pretreatment. Our findings strongly support the hypothesis that OS was indeed generated in hippocampus. CA pretreatment can reduces the OS produced by seizures.
Subject(s)
Caffeic Acids/pharmacology , Epilepsy/chemically induced , Epilepsy/metabolism , Hippocampus/drug effects , Hippocampus/metabolism , Oxidative Stress/drug effects , Animals , Antioxidants/pharmacology , Disease Models, Animal , Epilepsy/physiopathology , Male , Nerve Degeneration/drug therapy , Nerve Degeneration/metabolism , Nerve Degeneration/physiopathology , Neuroprotective Agents/pharmacology , Oxidative Stress/physiology , Rats , Rats, WistarABSTRACT
Using the epilepsy model obtained by systemic administration of pilocarpine in rats in the present study we investigated the changes caused by seizures on content and species of gangliosides and phospholipids, as well as on cholesterol concentration, glutathione reduced contents, Na(+), K(+)-ATPase activity and lipid peroxidation levels in rat hippocampus. Wistar rats received pilocarpine hydrochloride (400mg/kg, i.p., pilocarpine group), and other group received 0.9% saline (i.p., control group). Results showed that seizures significantly decreased the total content of lipids and glutathione reduced concentration in rat hippocampus. We also observed that seizures significantly reduced the absolute quantity of the major brain gangliosides (GM1, GD1a, GD1b and GT1b) and phospholipids (sphingomyelin, phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylethanolamine). Our data also showed a decreased Na(+), K(+)-ATPase activity and an increased TBARS levels in hippocampus of seized rats. If confirmed in human beings, these data could suggest that the alteration in lipid composition, Na(+), K(+)-ATPase activity, glutathione reduced content and TBARS levels caused by seizures might contribute to the neurophysiopathology of seizures observed in epileptic patients.
