title: Efficacy of fish liver oil and propolis as neuroprotective agents in pilocarpine epileptic rats treated with valproate.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the action of fish liver oil and propolis in pilocarpine epileptic rats treated with the anticonvulsant drug valproate.
  
  
  METHODS
  Seven groups of rats were treated daily for six months: control; fish liver oil (0.4ml/kg b.w); propolis (50mg/kg b.w); pilocarpine-treated rats (epileptic control); epileptic rats treated with valproate (400mg/kg b.w); groups 6 and 7, epileptic rats treated with valproate plus fish liver oil or propolis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Pilocarpine administration caused a significant increase in hippocampal dopamine and serotonin levels accompanied with a significant decrease in their levels in serum. Lipid peroxidation level and LDH activity in hippocampus were significantly increased after pilocarpine treatment whereas Na(+)/K(+)-ATPase activity and total antioxidant capacity were significantly decreased compared to the controls. Animals treated with the combined treatments showed a significant improvement in tested parameters towards the normal values of the control.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Fish liver oil and propolis when given in combination with valproate, neuroprotected against the neurophysiological disorders induced by pilocarpine epilepsy in rats.
authors.affiliation: Medical Physiology Department, National Research Centre, Dokki, Egypt.
authors.forename: Fathia
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Mannaa
authors.forename: Karima A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: El-Shamy
authors.forename: Kamal A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: El-Shaikh
authors.forename: Mahitab
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: El-Kassaby