title: Contribution of estradiol in sex-dependent differences of pentylenetetrazole-induced seizures in rats.
abstract: In the present study the contribution of estradiol in sex-dependent differences of pentylenetetrazole (PTZ)-induced seizures was investigated in rats. The rats were divided into four groups: 1) sham, 2) ovariectomized (OVX), 3) ovariectomized-estradiol (OVX-Est) and 4) male. The OVX-Est group received estradiol valerate (2 mg/kg; i.m/4 weeks) while, male, sham and OVX groups received vehicle. The animals were injected by PTZ (90 mg/kg). The latencies to minimal clonic seizures (MCS) and generalized tonic-clonic seizures (GTCS), were recorded. Serum 17β-estradiol and testosterone levels were also determined using an Elisa kit. GTCS latency in OVX rats was higher than in sham-operated animals (P < 0.05). MCS and GTCS latency in the male group was significantly higher than in the sham, OVX and OVX-Est groups (P < 0.001 and P < 0.01). There was no significant difference in MCS or GTCS latencies among OVX-Est, sham and OVX groups. Serum 17β-estradiol level in the OVX group was significantly lower than in the sham (P < 0.01) and in the OVX-Est group it was higher than in the sham, OVX and male groups (P < 0.01 and P < 0.001). Serum testosterone level in the male group was significantly higher than in all the other three groups (P < 0.001). It seems that testosterone probably has a more efficient role than estradiol in the gender dependent difference in seizure caused by PTZ in rats.
authors.affiliation: Mashhad University of Medical Sciences Neuroscience Research Center & Department of Physiology, School of Medicine Mashhad Iran Mashhad University Medical Sciences Department of Physiology, Scool of Medicine Mashhad Iran.
authors.forename: Mahmoud
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hosseini
authors.forename: H R
authors.initials: HR
authors.lastname: Sadeghnia
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Salehabadi
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Soukhtanloo
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004958:Estradiol / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D010433:Pentylenetetrazole / Q000008:administration & dosage; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012640:Seizures / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000378:metabolism*; D012727:Sex Characteristics
chemical_list: D004958:Estradiol; D010433:Pentylenetetrazole