title: The effect of subchronic supplementation with folic acid on homocysteine induced seizures.
abstract: Influence of folic acid on the CNS is still unclear. Folate has a neuroprotective effect, while on the other hand excess folate can exacerbate seizures in epileptics. The aim of the present study was to examine the effect of subchronic administration of folic acid on behavioural and electroencephalographic (EEG) characteristics of DL homocysteine thiolactone induced seizures in adult rats. The activity of Na⁺/K⁺-ATPase and Mg²⁺-ATPase in different brain regions was investigated. Adult male Wistar rats were divided into groups: 1. Controls (C, 0.9% NaCl); 2. DL homocysteine-thiolactone 8.0 mmol/kg (H); 3. Subchronic supplementation with folic acid 5 mg/kg for 7 days (F) and 4. Subchronic supplementation with F + single dose of H (FH). Seizure behaviour was assessed by incidence, latency, number and intensity of seizure episodes. Seizure severity was described by a descriptive scale with grades 0-4. For EEG recordings, three gold-plated recording electrodes were implanted into the skull. Subchronic supplementation with folic acid did not affect seizure incidence, median number of seizure episodes and severity in FH, comparison with H (p > 0.05). The majority of seizure episodes in all groups were of grade 2. There were no significant differences in lethal outcomes at 24 h upon H injection in the FH vs. H group. The activity of Na⁺/K⁺-ATPase and Mg²⁺-ATPase was significantly increased in almost all examined structures in the FH vs. H group. Subchronic folic acid administration did not exacerbate H induced seizures and completely recovered the activity of ATPases.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Medical Physiology "Richard Burian", Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade , Belgrade , Serbia.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rasic-Markovic
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Rankov-Petrovic
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Hrncic
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Krstic
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Colovic
authors.forename: Dj
authors.initials: Dj
authors.lastname: Macut
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Djuric
authors.forename: Olivera
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Stanojlovic
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000201:enzymology / Q000503:physiopathology; D058256:Brain Waves / Q000187:drug effects; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004569:Electroencephalography; D005492:Folic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006710:Homocysteine; D008297:Male; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012640:Seizures / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000201:enzymology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology; D000254:Sodium-Potassium-Exchanging ATPase / Q000378:metabolism; D013997:Time Factors; D015854:Up-Regulation
chemical_list: D006710:Homocysteine; D005492:Folic Acid; D000254:Sodium-Potassium-Exchanging ATPase
keywords: DL homocysteine thiolactone; electroencephalography; rats; seizures; subchronic folic acid