title: Acute anticonvulsant effects of capric acid in seizure tests in mice.
abstract: Capric acid (CA10) is a 10-carbon medium-chain fatty acid abundant in the medium-chain triglyceride ketogenic diet (MCT KD). The purpose of this study was to characterize acute anticonvulsant effects of CA10 across several seizure tests in mice. Anticonvulsant effects of orally (p.o.) administered CA10 were assessed in the maximal electroshock seizure threshold (MEST), 6-Hz seizure threshold, and intravenous pentylenetetrazole (i.v. PTZ) seizure tests in mice. Acute effects of CA10 on motor coordination were assessed in the grip and chimney tests. Plasma and brain concentrations of CA10 were measured. Co-administration studies with CA10 and another abundant medium-chain fatty acid, caprylic acid (CA8) were performed. CA10 showed significant and dose-dependent anticonvulsant properties by increasing seizure thresholds in the 6-Hz and MEST seizure tests; it was ineffective in the i.v. PTZ seizure test. At higher doses than those effective in the 6-Hz and MEST seizure tests, CA10 impaired motor performance in the grip and chimney tests. An enhanced anticonvulsant response in the 6-Hz seizure test was produced when CA8 and CA10 were co-administered. An acute p.o. administration of CA10 resulted in dose-proportional increases in its plasma and brain concentrations. CA10 exerted acute anticonvulsant effects at doses that produce plasma exposures comparable to those reported in epileptic patients on the MCT KD. An enhanced anticonvulsant effect is observed when CA10 and the other main constituent of the MCT KD, CA8, were co-administered. Thus, acute anticonvulsant properties of CA10 and CA8 may influence the overall clinical efficacy of the MCT KD.
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Physiology, Institute of Biology and Biochemistry, Maria Curie-Skłodowska University, Lublin, Poland.
authors.forename: Piotr
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Wlaź
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Physiology, Institute of Biology and Biochemistry, Maria Curie-Skłodowska University, Lublin, Poland.
authors.forename: Katarzyna
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Socała
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Physiology, Institute of Biology and Biochemistry, Maria Curie-Skłodowska University, Lublin, Poland.
authors.forename: Dorota
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Nieoczym
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Medical University, Lublin, Poland.
authors.forename: Tomasz
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Żarnowski
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Neurology, Medical University, Lublin, Poland.
authors.forename: Iwona
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Żarnowska
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathophysiology, Medical University, Lublin, Poland.
authors.forename: Stanisław J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Czuczwar
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology and Physiology, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA. Electronic address: NextPharma@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Maciej
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gasior
mesh_terms: D020155:3-Hydroxybutyric Acid / Q000097:blood; D000818:Animals; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000187:drug effects; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D002210:Caprylates / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003652:Decanoic Acids / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004357:Drug Synergism; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D009048:Motor Skills / Q000187:drug effects; D012640:Seizures / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*
chemical_list: D000927:Anticonvulsants; D001786:Blood Glucose; D002210:Caprylates; D003652:Decanoic Acids; C031071:decanoic acid; C031492:octanoic acid; D020155:3-Hydroxybutyric Acid
keywords: 6-Hz seizure test; Ketogenic diet; Maximal electroshock; Medium-chain fatty acids; Pentylenetetrazole; Seizure thresholds test