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CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 · International Journal of Epilepsy 2018; 05(02): S17-S18
DOI: 10.1055/s-0039-1694903
Abstracts of 20th Joint Annual Conference of Indian Epilepsy Society and Indian Epilepsy Association (ECON 2019)
Indian Epilepsy Society

Effect of Pentylenetetrazole-Induced Seizures on Serum Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF) Levels and Cognition in Rats

Vibha Patel‡
1   Neuropharmacology Laboratory, Department of Pharmacology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India
,
Jatinder Katyal‡
1   Neuropharmacology Laboratory, Department of Pharmacology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India
,
Haroon Rashid‡
1   Neuropharmacology Laboratory, Department of Pharmacology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India
,
Yogendra K. Gupta‡
1   Neuropharmacology Laboratory, Department of Pharmacology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India
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Publication Date:
31 July 2019 (online)

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Objective: Pentylenetetrazole (pTZ)-induced seizures affect the serum brain-derived neurotropic factor (BDNF) levels and also cognition in rats. In this study, effect of acute pentylenetetrazole induced seizures (60 mg/kg, i.p.) and chemical (pentylenetetrazole) kindling, that is, multiple injections of subliminal dose of pentylenetetrazole (35 mg/kg, i.p.) on serum BDNF levels and cognition in rats was studied.

Methods: Male Wistar rats (200–250 g) were trained for Morris water maze (MWM) test and baseline trials were conducted before subjecting to PTZ-induced seizures. For inducing seizures, rats were given single injection of PTZ (60 mg/kg, i.p.) and multiple injections of PTZ (35 mg/kg, i.p.; chronic kindling) once every alternate day. Seizure score was calculated after each PTZ injection and effect on cognition and serum BDNF level was evaluated. At the end of experiment, retention trials were performed, blood sample were collected for estimation of serum BDNF levels.

Results: Single injection of PTZ-induced seizures lead to significant changes (< 0.01) of BDNF. BDNF levels in kindled rats were found different as compared with normal control (1867.9 ± 549.3 vs. 2226.7 ± 180.9). No significant change in BDNF levels in chronic kindling were observed. Seizures in single injection as well as in multiple injections were significantly associated with cognitive impairment.

Conclusion: Single injection of PTZ (60 mg/kg) induced seizures show changes in BDNF levels and also shows cognitive impairments in rats. In chronic kindling, no effect on the levels of BDNF was observed but showed cognitive impairment in rats.