Neuroprotective effects and improvement of learning and memory elicited by erythravine and 11α-hydroxy-erythravine against the pilocarpine model of epilepsy

Publication date: Available online 18 November 2019Source: Life SciencesAuthor(s): Erica Aparecida Gelfuso, Suelen Lorenzato Reis, Ana Maria Soares Pereira, Daiane Santos Rosa Aguiar, Renê Oliveira BeleboniAbstractDeficits in cognitive functions are often observed in epileptic patients, particularly in temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE). Evidence suggests that this cognitive decline can be associated with the occurrence of focal brain lesions, especially on hippocampus and cortex regions. We previously demonstrated that the erythrinian alkaloids, (+)-erythravine and (+)-11α-hydroxy-erythravine, inhibit seizures evoked in rats by different chemoconvulsants.AimsThe current study evaluated if these alkaloids would be acting in a neuroprotective way, reducing hippocampal sclerosis, and consequently, improving learning/memory performance.Main methodsHere we confirmed the anticonvulsant effect of both alkaloids by means of the pilocarpine seizure-induced model and also showed that they enhanced spatial learning of rats submitted to the Morris Water Maze test reverting the cognition deficit. Additionally, immunohistochemistry assays showed that neuronal death and glial activation were prevented by the alkaloids in the hippocampus CA1, CA3 and dentate gyrus regions at both hemispheres indistinctly 15 days after status epilepticus induction.Key findingsOur results show, for the first-time, the improvement on memory/learning elicited by these erythrinian alkaloids. Furthermore, data pres...
Source: Life Sciences - Category: Biology Source Type: research