title: Effects of intravenous human umbilical cord blood mesenchymal stem cell therapy versus gabapentin in pentylenetetrazole-induced chronic epilepsy in rats.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The identification and application of stem cells to treat central nervous system disorders represent a dramatic evolution and expansion into the realms of neurorestoration and neuroregeneration. The aim of this study was to assess the possible ameliorative effect of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) in comparison to gabapentin on pentylenetetrazole (PTZ)-induced epileptogenesis and its consequences.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-two rats were divided into 4 equal groups; group I: saline-injected group, group II: PTZ group, which received 13 intraperitoneal (i.p.) injections of PTZ (30 mg/kg) 3 times/week, groups III and IV: groups received PTZ and were treated with i.p. gabapentin (200 mg/kg) 60 min before each PTZ injection (group III) or a single intravenous injection of 10(6) MSCs/rat at day 22 (group IV).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Treatment with either gabapentin or MSCs demonstrated a significant improvement in the PTZ-induced epileptogenesis and its severe consequences, i.e. oxidative stress damage, motor and cognitive impairments. Moreover, they enhanced the GABA neurotransmitter levels. Meanwhile, MSC administration to chronic epileptic rats afforded more ameliorative effects on PTZ-induced epileptogenesis and its severe consequences in comparison to gabapentin.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These data indicate that MSCs were superior to gabapentin in ameliorating PTZ-induced epileptogenesis and verified the potential use of MSCs in seizure control, motor and cognitive impairments, oxidative stress, and the impairing GABA level in experimentally induced epilepsy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Suez Canal University, Ismailia, Egypt.
authors.forename: Amira S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Mohammed
authors.forename: Mohammed M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Ewais
authors.forename: Mona K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Tawfik
authors.forename: Soha S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Essawy
mesh_terms: D000588:Amines / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D003509:Cyclohexanecarboxylic Acids / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005260:Female; D000077206:Gabapentin; D006801:Humans; D007274:Injections, Intraperitoneal; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D045164:Mesenchymal Stem Cell Transplantation / Q000379:methods*; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D010433:Pentylenetetrazole; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012640:Seizures / Q000517:prevention & control*; D014470:Umbilical Cord / Q000166:cytology; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D000588:Amines; D003509:Cyclohexanecarboxylic Acids; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid; D000077206:Gabapentin; D010433:Pentylenetetrazole