Effect of Resveratrol on a Penicillin-Induced Epilepsy Model in Rats

Abstract

Objective: Epilepsy, one of the most common chronic neurological diseases, is characterized by spontaneous recurrent seizures. Many studies, using various experimental epilepsy models, have shown that resveratrol reduces epileptiform activity and has neuroprotective effects. Using an epilepsy model created with penicillin, we aimed to investigate the effect of resveratrol on epileptiform activity in rats. Methods: A total of 40 Wistar albino rats were divided into 5 groups of 8. In the control group, only 2.5 mu L of saline was administered intracranially (ic). In the penicillin group, 500 IU of penicillin was given intracranially with no additional procedure. In the resveratrol group, 40 mg/kg of resveratrol was administered intraperitoneally (ip) 20 minutes after penicillin was given intracranially. In the sodium valproate group, 20 minutes after penicillin ic, 300 mg/kg of sodium valproate was administered intraperitoneally. In the resveratrol + sodium valproate group, 20 minutes after penicillin ic, 40 mg/kg of resveratrol was administered intraperitoneally to the right side and 300 mg/kg of sodium valproate ip to the left side. The rats were placed in a stereotaxic device after the procedure and electrocorticogram recordings were captured for 180 minutes. Results: The number of spikes and the average amplitude of the spikes (peak-to-peak) were calculated from the electrophysiological recording data. In the resveratrol group, there was no statistically significant difference in spike frequency and amplitude values. In the resveratrol + sodium valproate group, the spike frequency values decreased significantly from the 30th minutes (P =.028 <.05) and the amplitude decreased significantly from the 60th minutes (P =.018 <.05). Conclusion: In this rat experimental epilepsy model created with penicillin, administration of resveratrol alone did not create a statistically significant difference in epileptiform activity; however, administration of resveratrol with sodium valproate significantly decreased epileptiform activity.