Effect of infrared laser irradiation on amino acid neurotransmitters in an epileptic animal model induced by pilocarpine.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of daily laser irradiation on the levels of amino acid neurotransmitters in the cortex and hippocampus in an epileptic animal model induced by pilocarpine.


BACKGROUND
It has been claimed that at specific wavelengths and energy densities, laser irradiation is a novel and useful tool for the treatment of peripheral and central nervous system injuries and disorders.


METHODS
Adult male albino rats were divided into three groups: control rats, pilocarpinized rats (epileptic animal model), and pilocarpinized rats treated daily with laser irradiation (90 mW at 830 nm) for 7 d. The following parameters were assayed in cortex and hippocampus: amino acid neurotransmitters (excitatory: glutamic acid and aspartate; and inhibitory: gamma-aminobutyric acid [GABA], glycine, and taurine) by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), glucose content, and the activity of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST), using a spectrophotometer.


RESULTS
Significant increases in the concentrations of glutamic acid, glutamine, glycine, and taurine were recorded in the cortices of pilocarpinized rats, and they returned to initial levels after laser treatment. In the hippocampus, a moderate increase in aspartate accompanied by a significant increase in glycine were observed in the epileptic animal model, and these dropped to near-control values after laser treatment. In addition, a significant increase in cortical AST activity and a significant decrease in ALT activity and glucose content were obtained in the pilocarpinized animals and pilocarpinized rats treated with laser irradiation. In the hippocampus, significant decreases in the activity of AST and ALT and glucose content were recorded in the epileptic animals and in the epileptic animals treated with laser irradiation.


CONCLUSIONS
Based on the results obtained in this study, it may be suggested that nearinfrared laser irradiation may reverse the neurochemical changes in amino acid neurotransmitters induced by pilocarpine.
Radwan
Nasr Mahmoud
NM
Zoology Department, Faculty of Science, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt.
El Hay Ahmed
Nawal Abd
NA
Ibrahim
Khayria Mansour
KM
Khedr
Mona Emam
ME
Aziz
Mona A
MA
Khadrawy
Yasser Ashry
YA
D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000378:metabolism; D000596:Amino Acids / Q000378:metabolism*; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases / Q000378:metabolism; D001224:Aspartic Acid / Q000378:metabolism; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000378:metabolism / Q000528:radiation effects*; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D018698:Glutamic Acid / Q000378:metabolism; D005998:Glycine / Q000378:metabolism; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000378:metabolism / Q000528:radiation effects*; D054023:Lasers, Semiconductor; D008297:Male; D023421:Models, Animal; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents / Q000378:metabolism*; D010862:Pilocarpine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D013654:Taurine / Q000378:metabolism; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid / Q000378:metabolism
D000596:Amino Acids; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents; D010862:Pilocarpine; D013654:Taurine; D001224:Aspartic Acid; D018698:Glutamic Acid; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases; D000410:Alanine Transaminase; D005998:Glycine