title: Estrogen effects on pilocarpine-induced temporal lobe epilepsy in rats.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Ginecologia, Escola Paulista de Medicina/Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Rua Sena Madureira 1245 apt 11, 04021-051 São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Melquíades
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pereira
authors.forename: José M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Soares
authors.forename: Sandra G
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Valente
authors.forename: Patricia B
authors.initials: PB
authors.lastname: Oliveira
authors.forename: Esper A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Cavalheiro
authors.forename: Débora
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Amado
authors.forename: Edmund C
authors.initials: EC
authors.lastname: Baracat
mesh_terms: 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*
chemical_list: D004966:Estrogens, Conjugated (USP); D018721:Muscarinic Agonists; D010862:Pilocarpine