Trilostane: Beyond Cushing's Syndrome.

Trilostane is a drug able to block the synthesis of progesterone from pregnenolone, dependent on the enzyme 3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase/Δ isomerase. As a consequence of this effect, it is used to treat endocrinological diseases such as Cushing's syndrome, especially in dogs. Because of the modulatory effects of trilostane on the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, trilostane administration causes an increase in brain levels of neurosteroids with anticonvulsant properties, as in the case of allopregnanolone.

Seizure progression is slowed by enhancing neurosteroid availability in the brain of epileptic rats.

Trilostane is a 3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase/Δ isomerase inhibitor able to produce a manyfold increase in brain levels of various neurosteroids, including allopregnanolone. We previously found that treatment with trilostane can slow down epileptogenesis in the kainic acid (KA) model of temporal lobe epilepsy. It is unknown whether trilostane may have a similar effect on the progression of epilepsy severity, as observed in KA-treated rats.

Effect of Extract on Rat Model Alzheimer's Disease: A Histopathological, Behavioral, Enzyme Activities, and Oxidative Stress Study.

The purpose of the current study is to investigate the effect of aquatic extract against the oxidative damage induced by aluminum chloride intoxication in Alzheimer's model of Wister rats. Rats were divided randomly into seven groups ( = 10). Control group received no treatment, sham group received distilled water orally, aluminum group (AL) was administered AlCl (100 mg/kg) orally, extract 1 and 2 groups were treated with only aqueous extract (DRE) (500 and 1000 mg/kg), and treatment 1 and 2 groups received aqueous extract (500 and 1000 mg/kg) and AlCl (100 mg/kg) orally.

Antiepileptogenic effects of trilostane in the kainic acid model of temporal lobe epilepsy.

Objective: Epileptogenesis after status epilepticus (SE) has a faster onset in rats treated to reduce brain levels of the anticonvulsant neurosteroid allopregnanolone with the 5α-reductase inhibitor finasteride; however, it still has to be evaluated whether treatments aimed at increasing allopregnanolone levels could result in the opposite effect of delaying epileptogenesis. This possibility could be tested using the peripherally active inhibitor of 3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase/Δ isomerase trilostane, which has been shown repeatedly to increase allopregnanolone levels in the brain.

Methods: Trilostane (50 mg/kg) was administered subcutaneously once daily for up to six consecutive days, starting 10 min after intraperitoneal administration of kainic acid (15 mg/kg).

Therapeutic Potential of Mesenchymal Stem Cells in the Treatment of Epilepsy and Their Interaction with Antiseizure Medications.

Epilepsy is a life-threatening neurological disease that affects approximately 70 million people worldwide. Although the vast majority of patients may be successfully managed with currently used antiseizure medication (ASM), the search for alternative therapies is still necessary due to pharmacoresistance in about 30% of patients with epilepsy. Here, we review the effects of ASMs on stem cell treatment when they could be, as expected, co-administered.

Houtt Extract Attenuates Neuronal Loss and Glial Activation in Pentylenetetrazol-Induced Kindling Model.

Inflammatory reactions are closely associated with the development and progression of epilepsy. It has been shown that inhibition of pro-inflammatory cytokines, which are released from activated astrocytes and microglia, are considered to be an effective therapeutic approach for the treatment of epileptic disorders. Regarding the anti-inflammatory effects of nutmeg ( Houtt), the present study was designed to investigate whether the nutmeg ethanolic extract could exert anticonvulsant and inhibitory effects on glial activation in pentylenetetrazol (PTZ)-induced mice model of kindling.

Arbutin reduces cognitive deficit and oxidative stress in animal model of Alzheimer's disease.

Recent evidences have shown the beneficial effects of natural products for treating of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Arbutin is derived from and exerts a wide range of pharmacological activities including anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant effects. The present study was designed to examine the protective effects of arbutin on streptozotocin (STZ)-induced neurotoxicity in rats.

miR-302/367-induced neurons reduce behavioral impairment in an experimental model of Alzheimer's disease.

In vivo reprogramming of reactive glial cells to neurons has opened a new horizon in regenerative medicine. Our previous study showed that astrocytes could be converted to neurons by the microRNA-302/367 (miR-302/367) cluster in adult brains. In this study, we investigated the possible contribution of miR-302/367-induced neurons in behavioral improvement and neural repair in an Alzheimer's disease (AD) animal model.

Piperine restores streptozotocin-induced cognitive impairments: Insights into oxidative balance in cerebrospinal fluid and hippocampus.

Piperine has been shown to have antioxidant activity and a cognitive-enhancing effect following long-term oral administration. In a comparative study of memantine, the current investigation threw light on the cognitive benefits of piperine. Lipid peroxidation and the ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and hippocampus in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced experimental dementia of the Alzheimer's type was measured.

Inhibition of GABA A receptor improved spatial memory impairment in the local model of demyelination in rat hippocampus.

Cognitive impairment and memory deficit are common features in multiple Sclerosis patients. The mechanism of memory impairment in MS is unknown, but neuroimaging studies suggest that hippocampal demyelination is involved. Here, we investigate the role of GABA A receptor on spatial memory in the local model of hippocampal demyelination.

Protective effect of raisin (currant) against spatial memory impairment and oxidative stress in Alzheimer disease model.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by progressive pathological changes of the brain. A number of studies demonstrated compelling evidence of the importance of oxidative processes in AD pathogenesis. Raisin contains polyphenol, phenolic acid, and tannin compounds, which have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.

Fingolimod enhances myelin repair of hippocampus in pentylenetetrazol-induced kindling model.

Recent evidence indicates that demyelination occurs in epilepsy patients and kindling animal models. Regarding the well-known literature on anti-inflammatory and myelin protective effects of fingolimod (FTY720) in multiple sclerosis patients and animal models, we hypostatized whether FTY720 administration could exert myelin protective effects in pentylenetetrazol (PTZ)-induced kindling model. To end this, animals received 0.