title: Gender difference in the influence of antioxidants on the blood-brain barrier permeability during pentylenetetrazol-induced seizures in hyperthermic rat pups.
abstract: Our purpose in this study was to investigate the protective effects of selenium and vitamin E on the blood-brain barrier (BBB) permeability in rats with convulsion under hyperthermic conditions. To eliminate the effect of sex on BBB, we performed our study on 4- to 5-week-old prepubertal rat pups. Evans-blue was used as a BBB tracer. Convulsions were induced by administration of i.p. pentylenetetrazol. In the selenium group, 4 ppm selenium was added to the drinking water for 4-5 weeks. Vitamin E was administered at 700 mg/kg ip. It was shown that the convulsions, both under normothermic and hyperthermic conditions, caused widespread increase in the BBB permeability (p < 0.05). In addition, a significant difference was observed among female and male rats (f [1, 102] = 6.387, p < 0.05). In convulsions under normothermic conditions, there was a further increase in the BBB permeability (F[3, 102] = 43.534, p < 0.001) and a greater increase of permeability in males compared to females (F[1, 102] = 6.387, p < 0.05). Selenium and vitamin E significantly decreased the BBB destruction caused by convulsions under hyperthermic conditions in males (p < 0.05). Treatment with selenium or vitamin E has beneficial effects on the BBB breakdown during convulsions. But gender differences are very important in BBB permeability under pathological conditions and antioxidant treatments.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, Istanbul Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul University, Capa, Istanbul, 34390, Turkey.
authors.forename: Baria
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Oztas
authors.forename: Sibel
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Akgul
authors.forename: F Burcu
authors.initials: FB
authors.lastname: Seker
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000378:metabolism*; D001812:Blood-Brain Barrier / Q000502:physiology*; D003292:Convulsants / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D005334:Fever; D008297:Male; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000378:metabolism; D010433:Pentylenetetrazole / Q000378:metabolism*; D010539:Permeability; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012640:Seizures / Q000139:chemically induced*; D012643:Selenium / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000378:metabolism*; D012737:Sex Factors; D014810:Vitamin E / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D003292:Convulsants; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D014810:Vitamin E; D012643:Selenium; D010433:Pentylenetetrazole