Antiepileptic activity of melatonin in guinea pigs with pentylenetetrazol-induced seizures.
BACKGROUND
Antiepileptic and neuroprotective effects of melatonin (N-acetyl-5-methoxytryptamine) have been shown at higher doses (50-160 mg/kg). We aimed to investigate the antiepileptic effects of low-dose melatonin (10 mg/kg) on pentylenetetrazol (PTZ)-induced experimental epilepsy model.


METHODS
Twelve male albino guinea pigs weighing 500-800 g were used in our work. Initially, latent period, seizure intensity and mortality parameters were evaluated during the epileptic seizure induced by PTZ. After a recovery period of 7 days, effects of the neuroprotective agent, melatonin (which is dissolved in 2.5% ethanol-saline solution), on epileptic seizures induced by PTZ were evaluated. Effects of 2.5% ethanol, which is an anticonvulsant agent when administered acutely in high concentrations, on PTZ-induced seizures were also evaluated.


RESULTS
Data obtained from the study groups (PTZ, PTZ + melatonin and PTZ + ethanol) were evaluated by paired t-test, and p<0.005 was considered statistically significant. The differences of latent periods between the PTZ and PTZ + melatonin groups were found to be statistically significant (p<0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
Although melatonin does not have a primary anticonvulsant effect at low doses (10 mg/kg), it lowers the mortality rates and attenuates seizure severity while increasing the latent period.
Solmaz
Ilker
I
Department of Neurosurgery, Gülhane Military Medical Academy, Ankara, Turkey.
Gürkanlar
Doğa
D
Gökçil
Zeki
Z
Göksoy
Cüneyt
C
Ozkan
Muhip
M
Erdoğan
Ersin
E
D000818:Animals; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D002492:Central Nervous System Depressants / Q000494:pharmacology; D003292:Convulsants / Q000494:pharmacology; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004347:Drug Interactions / Q000502:physiology; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D000431:Ethanol / Q000494:pharmacology; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D008297:Male; D008550:Melatonin / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010433:Pentylenetetrazole / Q000494:pharmacology; D013997:Time Factors
D000927:Anticonvulsants; D002492:Central Nervous System Depressants; D003292:Convulsants; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D000431:Ethanol; D008550:Melatonin; D010433:Pentylenetetrazole