Hormonal and biochemical changes in female Proechimys guyannensis, an animal model of resistance to pilocarpine-induced status epilepticus.

The Amazon rodent Proechimys guyannensis is widely studied for hosting various pathogens, though rarely getting sick. Previous studies on male Proechimys have revealed an endogenous resistance to epilepsy. Here, we assess in female Proechimys, whether sex hormones and biochemical aspects can interfere with the induction of status epilepticus (SE).

Neurocysticercosis and pharmacoresistant epilepsy: possible role of calcified lesions in epileptogenesis.

Neurocysticercosis is a neglected and usually poverty-related disease of high public importance. The mechanisms by which the calcified lesions cause epilepsy are not known, but have been attributed to residual perilesional gliosis or an inflammatory process. This case shows that an inflammatory response to a calcified granuloma may be associated with the development of epilepsy.

Indomethacin can downregulate the levels of inflammatory mediators in the hippocampus of rats submitted to pilocarpine-induced status epilepticus.

Objective: Refractory status epilepticus is one of the most life-threatening neurological emergencies and is characterized by high morbidity and mortality. Additionally, the use of anti-inflammatory drugs during this period is very controversial. Thus, this study has been designed to analyze the effect of a low dose of indomethacin (a COX inhibitor) on the expression of inflammatory molecules.

What have we learned about the kallikrein-kinin and renin-angiotensin systems in neurological disorders?

The kallikrein-kinin system (KKS) is an intricate endogenous pathway involved in several physiological and pathological cascades in the brain. Due to the pathological effects of kinins in blood vessels and tissues, their formation and degradation are tightly controlled. Their components have been related to several central nervous system diseases such as stroke, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis, epilepsy and others.

Lovastatin decreases the synthesis of inflammatory mediators during epileptogenesis in the hippocampus of rats submitted to pilocarpine-induced epilepsy.

Statins may act on inflammatory responses, decreasing oxidative stress and also reducing brain inflammation in several brain disorders. Epileptogenesis is a process in which a healthy brain becomes abnormal and predisposed to generating spontaneous seizures. We previously reported that lovastatin could prevent neuroinflammation in pilocarpine-induced status epilepticus (SE).