title: Alteration in 5-HT₂C, NMDA receptor and IP3 in cerebral cortex of epileptic rats: restorative role of Bacopa monnieri.
abstract: Bacopa monnieri is effective in stress management, brain function and a balanced mood. 5-HT2C receptors have been implicated in stress whereas NMDA receptors and mGlu5 play crucial role in memory and cognition. In the present study, we investigated the role of B. monnieri extract in ameliorating pilocarpine induced temporal lobe epilepsy through regulation of 5-HT2C and NMDA receptors in cerebral cortex. Our studies confirmed an increased 5-HT2C receptor function during epilepsy thereby facilitating IP3 release. We also observed an decreased NMDA receptor function with an elevated mGlu5 and GLAST gene expression in epileptic condition indicating the possibility for glutamate mediated excitotoxicity. These alterations lead to impaired behavioural functions as indicated by the Elevated Plus maze test. Carbamazepine and B. monnieri treatments to epileptic rats reversed the alterations in 5-HT2C, NMDA receptor functions and IP3 content thereby effectively managing the neurotransmitter balance in the cerebral cortex.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Science, Nirma University, Ahmedabad, 382 481, Gujarat, India.
authors.forename: Amee
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Krishnakumar
authors.forename: T R
authors.initials: TR
authors.lastname: Anju
authors.forename: Pretty Mary
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Abraham
authors.forename: C S
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Paulose
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001007:Anxiety / Q000523:psychology; D034681:Bacopa; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism*; D003292:Convulsants; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000378:metabolism*; D027341:Excitatory Amino Acid Transporter 1 / Q000378:metabolism; D007295:Inositol Phosphates / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D010862:Pilocarpine; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D064529:Receptor, Metabotropic Glutamate 5 / Q000378:metabolism; D044405:Receptor, Serotonin, 5-HT2C / Q000378:metabolism*; D016194:Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D003292:Convulsants; D027341:Excitatory Amino Acid Transporter 1; C578937:Grm5 protein, rat; D007295:Inositol Phosphates; D010936:Plant Extracts; D064529:Receptor, Metabotropic Glutamate 5; D044405:Receptor, Serotonin, 5-HT2C; D016194:Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate; C493392:Slc1a3 protein, rat; D010862:Pilocarpine; C062616:inositol 2,4,5-trisphosphate