The effect of quercetin on absence epilepsy in WAG/Rij rats.

AIM: In the present study, the effect of quercetin, a powerful antioxidant flavonoid, on genetic absence epilepsy was studied in WAG/Rij rats. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Tripolar electrodes were implanted into WAG/Rij rats. Basal electrocorticography (ECoG) was recorded following a recovery period. After basal ECoG recording, different doses of quercetin (QRC) (25, 50 and 100 mg/kg) were injected intraperitoneally (i.p.) for 30 days. ECoG recording was continued for 31 days, three hours a day. After recording, the rats were anesthetized and euthanized through cervical dislocation and their brains were excised. Biochemically, TNF-alpha, IL-6 and NO were studied in whole rat brains. RESULTS: In WAG/Rij rats, low-dose quercetin (25 mg/kg) reduced the number and duration of spike-wave discharges (SWDs) compared to the control group. However, 50 and 100 mg/kg quercetin doses increased SWDs. Duration of SWDs was prolonged only with 100 mg/kg dose. None of the quercetin doses had any effect on average amplitude of SWDs. In addition, it was observed in biochemical analyses that 25 mg/kg quercetin reduced TNF-alpha, IL-6 and NO levels compared to the control group. While TNF-alpha and IL-6 levels in rat brains were not affected by 50 or 100 mg/kg doses, both doses were found to increase NO levels in rat brains. CONCLUSION: Based on the results of the present study, 25 mg/kg low-dose quercetin may have reduced absence seizures by reducing proinflammatory cytokines and NO, but high-dose quercetin may have increased absence seizures through increasing the NO level. This contrasting effect of quercetin on absence seizures needs to be investigated by advanced mechanisms.

Electrophysiological, histopathological, and biochemical evaluation of the protective effect of probiotic supplementation against pentylenetetrazole-induced seizures in rats.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Research on the relationship between the gut microbiome and epilepsy is accumulating. The present study was conducted to evaluate the effect of probiotic supplementation on pentylenetetrazole (PTZ)-induced seizures in rats. METHODS: Twenty-one adult male Wistar albino rats were included. The animals were divided into three groups of seven rats. Group 1 was a control group, whereas Group 2 rats received PTZ treatment and Group 3 rats had PTZ+PB (probiotic) treatment. For 6 weeks, Groups 1 and 2 were given saline (1 ml), whereas Group 3 had probiotic supplement. In the 5th week, tripolar electrodes were attached to the rats. Electrophysiological, behavioral, biochemical, and immunohistochemical evaluations were performed in the 6 weeks after the treatment. RESULTS: PB treatment significantly reduced seizures. In the PTZ group, expression levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor, nerve growth factor (NGF), and Sox2 (SRY sex-determining region Y-box 2) in rat brains decreased significantly compared to the control group, whereas the expression levels of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6), total oxidant status (TOS), and nitric oxide (NO) levels increased. In the PTZ+PB group, NGF expression increased significantly compared to the PTZ group, whereas TNF-α, IL-6, TOS, and NO levels decreased. In histopathological examination, an abundance of necrotic neurons was notable in the PTZ group, which was less in the PTZ+PB group. In addition, body weight of the group supplemented with probiotics decreased after the treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that probiotic supplementation may alleviate seizure severity and exert neuroprotective effects by reducing neuroinflammation and oxidative stress and altering the expression of neurotrophins in epileptogenic brains.

The Effects of Probiotics and Omega-3 Fatty Acids in Liver Steatosis Induced in Rats by High-Fructose Corn Syrup.

Aims: This study was designed to reveal the effect of probiotics and omega-3 fatty acids in a fatty liver model in rats induced by high-fructose corn syrup (HFCS). Methods: In the study, 40 male Wistar Albino rats were used, and these rats were divided into five groups. HFCS was added to the drinking water (30% solution) of four groups (Groups 2, 3, 4, and 5) for three weeks, and the animals were fed ad libitum. At the end of three weeks, the rats in Groups 3, 4, and 5 were administered omega-3 fatty acids (400 mg/kg) and probiotics (1.5 × 109 cfu/mL/day) with the gavage method for four weeks. The body weights of rats were weighed and recorded before starting the experiment, at the end of the third week, and before the animals were sacrificed at the last week, all at the same hour. By subtracting the remaining amount of food and water from the daily food and water amount, the amount of food and water consumed was calculated. These values were recorded for seven weeks. At the end of the seven weeks, the rats were sacrificed after blood specimens and tissues were taken. Results: Analyzing the changes in the food intake of each group within itself throughout the experiment, it was observed that there was an increase in the food intake in the control group; from the starting week to the last week, the food intake amount of the HFCS group began to decrease particularly after the second week; and it began to decrease after the third week in the groups that were administered probiotics and omega-3 fatty acids. The changes in the sacrifice weights in the HFCS + omega-3 fatty acid, HFCS + probiotic, and HFCS + probiotic + omega-3 fatty acid groups were found to be lower than that in the HFCS group. The maximum levels of glucose, ALT, ALP, serum cholesterol, triglyceride and AST were found to be in the HFCS group. It was determined that the minimum mean steatosis level was in the control group, while the maximum steatosis level was in the HFCS group. Conclusions: As a result, there was a protective effect of probiotic and omega-3 fatty acid.

Probiotic supplementation alleviates absence seizures and anxiety- and depression-like behavior in WAG/Rij rat by increasing neurotrophic factors and decreasing proinflammatory cytokines.

AIM: Epilepsy is one of the most common chronic brain disorders that affect millions of people worldwide. In the present study, we investigated the effects of probiotic supplementation on absence epilepsy and anxiety-and depression-like behavior in WAG/Rij rats. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Fourteen male WAG/Rij rats (absence-epileptic) and seven male Wistar rats (nonepileptic) were used. The effects of probiotic VSL#3 (12.86 bn living bacteria/kg/day for 30 day/gavage) on absence seizures, and related psychiatric comorbidities were evaluated in WAG/Rij rats. Anxiety-like behavior was evaluated by the open-field test and depression-like behavior by the forced swimming test. In addition, the brain tissues of rats were evaluated histopathologically for nerve growth factor [NGF], brain-derived neurotrophic factor [BDNF], SRY sex-determining region Y-box 2 [SOX2] and biochemically for nitric oxide [NO], tumor necrosis factor-alpha [TNF-α] ,and Interleukin-6 [IL-6]. RESULTS: Compared to Wistar rats, WAG/Rij rats exhibited anxiety- and depression-like behavior, and had lower BDNF, NGF and SOX2 immunoreactivity, and higher TNF-α, IL-6 levels in brain tissue. VSL#3 supplementation reduced the duration and number of spike-wave discharges (SWDs) and exhibited anxiolytic or anti-depressive effect. VSL#3 supplement also increased the NGF immunoreactivity while decreasing IL-6, TNF-α and NO levels in WAG/Rij rat brain. CONCLUSION: The findings of the present study showed that neurotrophins, SOX2 deficiency, and pro-inflammatory cytokines may play a role in the pathogenesis of absence epilepsy. Our data support the hypothesis that the probiotics have anti-inflammatory effect. The present study is the first to show the positive effects of probiotic bacteria on absence seizures and anxiety- and depression-like behavior.

The Beneficial Effect of Probiotics Supplementation on Penicillin-Induced Focal Seizure in Rats.

The focal epilepsy is a chronic neurological brain disorder which affects millions of people in the world. There is emerging evidence that changes in the gut microbiota may have effects on epileptic seizures. In the present study, we examined the effect of probiotics on penicillin-induced focal seizure model in rats. Male Wistar Albino rats (n: 21) were randomly divided into three groups: control (no medication), penicillin and penicillin + probiotic. Probiotic VSL#3 (12.86 bn living bacteria/kg/day) was given by gavage for 30 days. The seizures were induced by intracortical injection of penicillin G (500 IU) into the cortex. An ECoG recordings were made for 180 min after penicillin G application. The spike frequency and the amplitude were used to assess the severity of seizures. Tumor necrosis factor (TNF-α), nitric oxide (NO) and interleukin (IL-6) levels in the brain were studied biochemically. Our results indicated that probiotic supplementation improved focal seizures through increasing the latency (p < 0.001) and decreasing the spike frequency (p < 0.01) compared to the penicillin group. Penicillin-induced seizure in rats significantly enhanced TNF-α (p < 0.01), NO (p < 0.01) and IL-6 (p < 0.05) compared to the control. Probiotic supplementation significantly decreased IL-6 (p < 0.05), TNF-α (p < 0.01) and NO (p < 0.001) compared to the penicillin group. When the body weights were compared before and after the experiment, there was no difference between the control and penicillin groups, but it was observed that the body weight decreased after probiotic supplementation in the penicillin + probiotic group. Probiotic supplementation may have anti-seizure effect by reducing proinflammatory cytokine and NO levels in epileptic rat brain.

The Effect of Different Amounts of Cinnamon Consumption on Blood Glucose in Healthy Adult Individuals.

BACKGROUND: This study was aimed at investigating the effect of consumption of different amounts of cinnamon on preprandial blood glucose (PrBG), postprandial blood glucose (PoBG), glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c), and body mass index (BMI). METHODS: This study was carried out on 41 healthy adult individuals. The individuals were divided into 3 groups and monitored for 40 days. The first, second, and third groups were given 1 g/day, 3 g/day, and 6 g/day cinnamon, respectively. Before the beginning of the consumption of cinnamon, HbA1c and PrBG blood tests of the individuals were examined on an empty stomach at family practice centers. Two hours after these tests were carried out and breakfast, PoBG tests were performed. RESULTS: According to the findings of the study, the differences between the average weight measurements, BMI values, and HbA1c values before consumption on days 20 and 40 were not statistically significant in the individuals consuming 1 g, 3 g, and 6 g of cinnamon a day. The difference between the average PrBG measurements was found to be significant in the individuals consuming 6 g of cinnamon per day. The difference between the average PoBG measurements before consumption on days 20 and 40 was significant in the individuals consuming 1 g, 3 g, and 6 g of cinnamon per day. CONCLUSIONS: In particular a 3-6 g of cinnamon consumption was found to affect certain blood parameters of individuals positively. Therefore, it is considered to be beneficial to raise awareness of individuals to be conscious to regularly consume cinnamon.