Evaluation of Hexarelin Effects on Epileptic Seizures, Hippocampal Neuronal Damage and Memory Impairment after Pentylenetetrazole-Induced Acute Model in Rat | Biomedgrid

Recent studies have demonstrated that ghrelin receptors have antiepileptic effects. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of ghrelin receptor agonist hexarelin on pentylenetetrazole (PTZ)-induced seizures and post-seizure hippocampal damage. In our study, we used 42 male 230-250 g Wistar Albino rats. Animals were divided into seven groups as control, saline (PTZ; 1 ml/kg serum physiologic), positive control (5 mg/kg diazepam), 50 μg/kg, 100 μg/kg, 200 μg/kg and 400 μg/kg hexarelin. 30 min after drugs administration at the indicated doses, PTZ was administered 45 mg/kg to induce an epileptic seizure. The animals were observed for 30 min. Seizure stages (according to the Racine Scale) and first myoclonic jerk times (FMJ). 24 hours after PTZ injection, passive avoidance test was performed, and then brain tissues were removed. After the routine histological process, serial sections from brain tissues were stained with toluidine blue to determine neuronal damage. The hippocampal Cornu Ammonis CA1, CA3 and dentate gyrus regions were evaluated histopathologically. Statistical evaluation of the data was performed by oneway ANOVA, and multiple comparisons were determined by the Tukey test. Statistical significance was defined at p<0.05. Obtained data suggest that 200 μg/kg and 400 μg/kg hexarelin decreased seizure stages and increased FMJ compared to PTZ group (p<0,05). In addition, 200 μg/kg and 400 μg/kg hexarelin improved retention time in passive avoidance compared to PTZ group (p<0,05). Furthermore, 200 μg/kg and 400 μg/kg hexarelin reduced neuronal damage in hippocampal CA1, CA3, and DG regions compared to PTZ group (p<0,05). However, all these effects of hexarelin were not observed at 50 μg/kg and 100 μg/kg (p>0,05). In conclusion, we suggest that hexarelin has protective effects on epileptic seizures and neuronal damage after PTZ dose-dependently