Estrogen effects on pilocarpine-induced temporal lobe epilepsy in rats.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the effects of conjugated equine estrogens (CEE) on the pilocarpine-induced epilepsy in rats.


METHODS
40 female rats were divided into: GPC (positive control) presented "status epilepticus" (SE) induced by pilocarpine; GOC (ovariectomized control) only castrated; GNC (negative control) received only saline solution; GPE received pilocarpine, presented SE, castrated and received 50microg/kg CEE treatment; GPV received pilocarpine, castrated and received propylene glycol (vehicle). The animals were monitored by a video system. At the end of observation, the brains removed for later histologic analysis using Neo-Timm and Nissl methods.


RESULTS
The GPE presented a reduction in number of seizures compared to GPV. The Neo-Timm analysis showed that GPV had greater sprouting of mossy fibers, with a denser band in the area of the dentate gyrus hilum compared to GPE. On Nissl staining, GPE showed evident neuronal loss in the CA3 area. GPV presented loss in CA1 and dentate gyrus.


CONCLUSIONS
Estrogen may have a protecting effect on the central nervous system.
Pereira
Melquíades
M
Departamento de Ginecologia, Escola Paulista de Medicina/Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Rua Sena Madureira 1245 apt 11, 04021-051 São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
Soares
José M
JM
Valente
Sandra G
SG
Oliveira
Patricia B
PB
Cavalheiro
Esper A
EA
Amado
Débora
D
Baracat
Edmund C
EC
D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology*; D004833:Epilepsy, Temporal Lobe / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D004966:Estrogens, Conjugated (USP) / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D018721:Muscarinic Agonists; D010862:Pilocarpine; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012640:Seizures / Q000188:drug therapy*
D004966:Estrogens, Conjugated (USP); D018721:Muscarinic Agonists; D010862:Pilocarpine