title: Antiepileptogenic effect of curcumin on kainate-induced model of temporal lobe epilepsy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) is an intractable neurological disorder. Curcumin is the bioactive component of turmeric with anti-epileptic and neuroprotective potential.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The beneficial effect of curcumin on the intrahippocampal kainate-induced model of TLE was investigated.
  
  
  METHODS
  Rats were divided into sham, curcumin-pretreated sham, kainate and curcumin-pretreated kainate groups. The rat model of TLE was induced by unilateral intrahippocampal injection of 4 μg of kainate. Rats received curcumin p.o. at a dose of 100 mg/kg/d starting 1 week before the surgery. Seizure activity (SE) and oxidative stress-related markers were measured. Furthermore, the Timm index for evaluation of mossy fiber sprouting (MFS) and number of Nissl-stained neurons were quantified.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All rats in the kainate group had SE, while 28.5% of rats showed seizures in the curcumin-pretreated kainate group. Malondialdehyde and nitrite and nitrate levels significantly increased in the kainate group (p < 0.01 and p < 0.05, respectively), and curcumin significantly lowered these parameters (p < 0.05). Superoxide dismutase activity significantly decreased in the kainate group (p < 0.05) and curcumin did not improve it. Rats in the kainate group showed a significant reduction of neurons in Cornu Ammonis 1 (CA1) (p < 0.05), CA3 (p < 0.005) and hilar (p < 0.01) regions, and curcumin significantly prevented these changes (p < 0.05-0.005). The Timm index significantly increased in the kainate group (p < 0.005), and curcumin significantly lowered this index (p < 0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Curcumin pretreatment can attenuate seizures, lower some oxidative stress markers, and prevent hippocampal neuronal loss and MFS in the kainate-induced model of TLE.
authors.affiliation: Neurophysiology Research Center, Shahed University , Tehran , Iran .
authors.forename: Zahra
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Kiasalari
authors.forename: Mehrdad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Roghani
authors.forename: Mohsen
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Khalili
authors.forename: Batool
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Rahmati
authors.forename: Tourandokht
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Baluchnejadmojarad
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D003474:Curcumin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004833:Epilepsy, Temporal Lobe / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D007608:Kainic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D009573:Nitrites / Q000378:metabolism; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar
chemical_list: D000927:Anticonvulsants; D015415:Biomarkers; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D009573:Nitrites; D003474:Curcumin; D007608:Kainic Acid