Protection against cognitive impairment and modification of epileptogenesis with curcumin in a post-status epilepticus model of temporal lobe epilepsy.

Epileptogenesis is a dynamic process initiated by insults to the brain that is characterized by progressive functional and structural alterations in certain cerebral regions, leading to the appearance of spontaneous recurrent seizures. Within the duration of the trauma to the brain and the appearance of spontaneous recurrent seizures, there is typically a latent period, which may offer a therapeutic window for preventing the emergence of epilepsy. Previous animal studies have shown that curcumin can attenuate acute seizure severity and brain oxidative stress, but the effect of curcumin on epileptogenesis has not been studied. We examined the effect of continued administration of curcumin during the latent period on epileptogenesis and the deleterious consequences of status epilepticus in adult rats in a post-status epilepticus model of temporal lobe epilepsy induced by kainic acid. We demonstrate that, while administration of curcumin treatment during the latent period does not prevent occurrence of spontaneous recurrent seizures after status epilepticus, it can attenuate the severity of spontaneous recurrent seizures and protect against cognitive impairment. Thus, treatment with curcumin during the latent period following status epilepticus is beneficial in modifying epileptogenesis.

Importance of nutrition and host availability on oogenesis and oviposition of Cephalonomia stephanoderis (Hymenoptera: Bethylidae).

A variety of host and non-host meals were tested for their potential in triggering oogenesis and oviposition in females of Cephalonomia stephanoderis Betrem, a synovigenic parasitoid of the coffee berry borer, Hypothenemus hampei (Ferrari). The consumption of non-host meals or meals composed of honey and crushed host eggs or pupae was insufficient to initiate oogenesis. The presence of suitable hosts for oviposition appeared essential for inducing oogenesis and oviposition in this parasitoid. Whereas females may host-feed on all developmental stages of H. hampei, these were not equally suitable in stimulating oogenesis and oviposition. In no-choice tests, oogenesis and oviposition were observed only in females supplied with fully-developed larvae, prepupae and pupae. Direct contact with hosts apparently stimulated egg maturation and egg-laying. Delaying the allocation of energy to egg production until suitable hosts are available for oviposition may be an adaptive attribute of a parasitoid of a concealed and patchily distributed host such as H. hampei.