title: Oxidative stress in rat striatum after pilocarpine-induced seizures is diminished by alpha-tocopherol.
abstract: Alpha-tocopherol has numerous nonenzymatic actions and is a powerful liposoluble antioxidant. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the neuroprotective effects of alpha-tocopherol in rats against oxidative stress caused by pilocarpine-induced seizures. Wistar rats were intraperitoneally treated with 0.9% saline (control group), alpha-tocopherol (200 mg/kg, alpha-tocopherol group), pilocarpine (400 mg/kg, pilocarpine group), or the combination of alpha-tocopherol (200 mg/kg) and pilocarpine (400 mg/kg, i.p.; alpha-tocopherol plus pilocarpine group). After the treatments, all groups were observed for 24 h. The superoxide dismutase (Mn-SOD) and catalase activities, lipid peroxidation and nitrite concentrations were measured using spectrophotometrically methods. To clarify the mechanism of alpha-tocopherol on oxidative stress in pilocarpine model, Western blot analysis of Mn-SOD and catalase in rat striatum were performed. In the pilocarpine group, rats showed a significant increase in lipid peroxidation and nitrite levels. However, there were no alterations on Mn-SOD activity. On the other hand, the catalase activity augmented in pilocarpine group. In the alpha-tocopherol and pilocarpine co-administered rats, antioxidant treatment significantly reduced the lipid peroxidation level and nitrite content and increased the Mn-SOD and catalase activities in rat striatum after seizures. Pilocarpine, alpha-tocopherol plus pilocarpine and alpha-tocopherol groups did not affect of the Mn-SOD and catalase mRNA or protein levels. Our findings strongly support the hypothesis that oxidative stress occurs in striatum during pilocarpine-induced seizures, indicating that brain damage induced by the oxidative process plays a crucial role in seizures pathogenic consequences, which implies that strong protective effect could be achieved using alpha-tocopherol.
authors: Laboratory of Research in Experimental Neurochemistry of Post-Graduation Program in Pharmaceutics Science, Federal University of Piaui, CEP 64.049-550, Teresina, Piaui, Brazil.
authors: Pauline Sousa
authors: PS
authors: dos Santos
authors: Jéssica Pereira
authors: JP
authors: Costa
authors: Adriana da Rocha
authors: Ada R
authors: Tomé
authors: Gláucio Barros
authors: GB
authors: Saldanha
authors: Geane Felix
authors: GF
authors: de Souza
authors: Dejiang
authors: D
authors: Feng
authors: Rivelilson Mendes
authors: RM
authors: de Freitas
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects; D002374:Catalase / Q000378:metabolism; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D017072:Neostriatum / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D009573:Nitrites / Q000378:metabolism; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects*; D010862:Pilocarpine / Q000009:adverse effects*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012640:Seizures / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000378:metabolism; D013997:Time Factors; D024502:alpha-Tocopherol / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D009573:Nitrites; D010862:Pilocarpine; D002374:Catalase; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase; D024502:alpha-Tocopherol