EP2 receptor agonist ONO-AE1-259-01 attenuates pentylenetetrazole- and pilocarpine-induced seizures but causes hippocampal neurotoxicity.

Epilepsy is a common and devastating neurological disease affecting more than 50 million people worldwide. Accumulating experimental and clinical evidence suggests that inflammatory pathways contribute to the development of seizures in various forms of epilepsy. In this context, while the activation of the PGE EP2 receptor causes early neuroprotective and late neurotoxic effects, the role of EP2 receptor in seizures remains unclear.

Alpha melanocyte stimulating hormone (α-MSH) does not modify pentylenetetrazol- and pilocarpine-induced seizures.

Aims: Alpha-melanocyte stimulating hormone (α-MSH) is a pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC)-derived peptide involved in different neurological functions that also exerts anti-inflammatory effects, including in the central nervous system (CNS). Although inflammation has been implicated in seizures and epilepsy, no study has systematically investigated whether α-MSH modifies seizures. Therefore, in the current study we determined whether α-MSH alters pentylenetetrazol (PTZ)- and pilocarpine-induced seizures.