Abstract

THE NEUROPROTECTIVE EFFECT OF ?-TOCOPHEROL ON PTZINDUCED EPILEPSY CAUSES OXIDATIVE STRESS AND MEMORY IMPAIRMENT IN RATS.

Shaktipal Patil*, Ujwal Katolkar, Amit Salve and Dharmendra Mundhada

ABSTRACT

PTZ-induced epilepsy impairment memory in rats is a consequence of changes within the central nervous system that are secondary to impaired oxidative stress. Treatment with antioxidants are reported to produce beneficial effects in animal models. α-tocopherol reported to exhibit antioxidant effect. However, no report is available on the influence of α-tocopherol on PTZ-induced epilepsy causes memory impairment. Therefore, we tested its influence against cognitive dysfunction in PTZ-induced epileptic rats using passive avoidance test. Lipid peroxidation and glutathione levels as parameter of oxidative stress were assessed in the hippocampus. After induction of epilepsy PTZ treated rats showed a severe deficit in learning and memory associated with increased lipid peroxidation, decreased glutathione activity. In contrast, treatment with α-tocopherol (100-300 mg/kg, p.o.) improved cognitive performance, and lowered oxidative stress in PTZ treated rats. In conclusion, the present study demonstrates that treatment with α-tocopherol prevents the changes in oxidative stress and consequently memory impairment in PTZ treated rats.

Keywords: ?-tocopherol; PTZ-induced epilepsy; Memory impairment; Oxidative stress, Passive avoidance test.