Reconstituted spray-dried phenytoin-loaded nanocapsules improve the in vivo phenytoin anticonvulsant effect and the survival time in mice.

This study evaluated the in vivo anticonvulsant effect of a spray-dried powder for reconstitution containing phenytoin-loaded lipid-core nanocapsules. The effect of chitosan coating on redispersibility, gastrointestinal stability, and drug release from nanoparticles was evaluated during the development of the powders. Maltodextrin was used as adjuvant in the spray-drying process.

Na, K-ATPase Activating Antibody Displays in vitro and in vivo Beneficial Effects in the Pilocarpine Model of Epilepsy.

Na, K-ATPase is an important regulator of brain excitability. Accordingly, compelling evidence indicates that impairment of Na, K-ATPase activity contributes to seizure activity in epileptic mice and human with epilepsy. In addition, this enzyme is crucial for plasma membrane transport of water, glucose and several chemical mediators, including glutamate, the major excitatory transmitter in the mammalian brain.

Subtle improvement of seizure susceptibility by atorvastatin treatment during epileptogenesis.

Background: The process by which a brain insult elicits epilepsy is termed epileptogenesis and it is characterized by numerous molecular and functional alterations. Statins are first-line drugs for hypercholesterolemia and related diseases, and display neuroprotective properties in clinical and experimental studies. Considering the importance in developing therapeutic strategies to prevent or modify epileptogenesis, we aimed the present study to test the hypothesis that atorvastatin modifies seizure susceptibility of mice after status epilepticus (SE).

Effect of atorvastatin on behavioral alterations and neuroinflammation during epileptogenesis.

Temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) is the most frequent and medically refractory type of epilepsy in humans. In addition to seizures, patients with TLE suffer from behavioral alterations and cognitive deficits. Poststatus epilepticus model of TLE induced by pilocarpine in rodents has enhanced the understanding of the processes leading to epilepsy and thus, of potential targets for antiepileptogenic therapies.

Rosmarinic acid is anticonvulsant against seizures induced by pentylenetetrazol and pilocarpine in mice.

Epilepsy is a chronic neurological disease characterized by spontaneous recurrent seizures (SRS). Current anticonvulsant drugs are ineffective in nearly one-third of patients and may cause significant adverse effects. Rosmarinic acid is a naturally occurring substance which displays several biological effects including antioxidant and neuroprotective activity.

Anticonvulsant activity of β-caryophyllene against pentylenetetrazol-induced seizures.

Increasing evidence suggests that plant-derived extracts and their isolated components are useful for treatment of seizures and, hence, constitute a valuable source of new antiepileptic drugs with improved efficacy and better adverse effect profile. β-Caryophyllene is a natural bicyclic sesquiterpene that occurs in a wide range of plant species and displays a number of biological actions, including neuroprotective activity. In the present study, we tested the hypothesis that β-caryophyllene displays anticonvulsant effects.

Evaluation of potential gender-related differences in behavioral and cognitive alterations following pilocarpine-induced status epilepticus in C57BL/6 mice.

Together with pharmacoresistant seizures, the quality of life of temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) patients is negatively impacted by behavioral comorbidities including but not limited to depression, anxiety and cognitive deficits. The pilocarpine model of TLE has been widely used to study characteristics of human TLE, including behavioral comorbidities. Since the outcomes of pilocarpine-induced TLE might vary depending on several experimental factors, we sought to investigate potential gender-related differences regarding selected behavioral alterations in C57BL6 mice.

HOE-140, an antagonist of B2 receptor, protects against memory deficits and brain damage induced by moderate lateral fluid percussion injury in mice.

Rationale: There are evidences indicating the role of kinins in pathophysiology of traumatic brain injury, but little is known about their action on memory deficits.

Objectives: Our aim was to establish the role of bradykinin receptors B₁ (B₁R) and B₂ (B₂R) on the behavioral, biochemical, and histologic features elicited by moderate lateral fluid percussion injury (mLFPI) in mice.

Methods: The role of kinin B₁ and B₂ receptors in brain damage, neuromotor, and cognitive deficits induced by mLFPI, was evaluated by means of subcutaneous injection of B₂R antagonist (HOE-140; 1 or 10 nmol/kg) or B₁R antagonist (des-Arg9-[Leu8]-bradykinin (DAL-Bk; 1 or 10 nmol/kg) 30 min and 24 h after brain injury.

The effect of NADPH-oxidase inhibitor apocynin on cognitive impairment induced by moderate lateral fluid percussion injury: role of inflammatory and oxidative brain damage.

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a devastating disease that commonly causes persistent mental disturbances and cognitive deficits. Although studies have indicated that overproduction of free radicals, especially superoxide (O2(-)) derived from nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) oxidase is a common underlying mechanism of pathophysiology of TBI, little information is available regarding the role of apocynin, an NADPH oxidase inhibitor, in neurological consequences of TBI. Therefore, the present study evaluated the therapeutic potential of apocynin for treatment of inflammatory and oxidative damage, in addition to determining its action on neuromotor and memory impairments caused by moderate fluid percussion injury in mice (mLFPI).

Atorvastatin withdrawal elicits oxidative/nitrosative damage in the rat cerebral cortex.

Statins are inhibitors of the enzyme 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase, the rate-limiting step in cholesterol biosynthesis. Statins effectively prevent and reduce the risk of coronary artery disease through lowering serum cholesterol, and also exert anti-thrombotic, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects independently of changes in cholesterol levels. On the other hand, clinical and experimental evidence suggests that abrupt cessation of statin treatment (i.

In vitro influence of temperature on the biological control activity of the fungus Duddingtonia flagrans against Haemonchus contortus in sheep.

Recently, research for alternative methods to combat gastrointestinal parasites has increased, and the biological control activity of the fungus Duddingtonia flagrans stands out. In this study, the possible influence of temperature on the nematophagous activity of D. flagrans, after gastrointestinal passage, against Haemonchus contortus in sheep was analysed.

Differential effects of atorvastatin treatment and withdrawal on pentylenetetrazol-induced seizures.

Purpose: Statins are selective inhibitors of 3-hydroxyl-3-methyl-glutaryl coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase, the rate-limiting enzyme of the mevalonate pathway for cholesterol biosynthesis. Increasing evidence indicates that statins, particularly atorvastatin, are neuroprotective in several conditions, including stroke, cerebral ischemia, traumatic brain injury, and excitotoxic amino acid exposure. However, only a few studies have investigated whether statins modulate seizure activity.