ABSTRACT
Status epilepticus (SE) is a medical emergency associated with high mortality and morbidity. Na+, K+-ATPase, is a promising therapeutic target for SE, given its critical role in regulation of neuron excitability and cellular homeostasis. We investigated the effects of a Na+, K+-ATPase-activating antibody (DRRSAb) on short-term electrophysiological and behavioral consequences of pilocarpine-induced SE. Rats were submitted to pilocarpine-induced SE, followed by intranasal administration (2 µg/nostril). The antibody increased EEG activity following SE, namely, EEG power in theta, beta, and gamma frequency bands, assessed by quantitative analysis of EEG power spectra. One week later, DRRSAb-treated animals displayed less behavioral hyperreactivity in pick-up tests and better performance in novel object recognition tests, indicating that the intranasal administration of this Na+, K+-ATPase activator immediately after SE improves behavioral outcomes at a later time point. These results suggest that Na+, K+-ATPase activation warrants further investigation as an adjunctive therapeutic strategy for SE.