Effects of Chlorogenic Acid on Epileptic Behavior and mRNA Expressions of Brain Derived Neurotrophic Factor in the Brain of Aged Rats

Introduction: The present study was conducted to evaluate the effect of Chlorogenic Acid (CA) and Diazepam (DZP) on epileptic complication that induced by repetitive intra-peritoneal injections of Pentylenetetrazle (PTZ) in aged rats.   Methods: Twenty-four month-old male Wistar rats (age > ۱۲ months, ۳۰۰-۳۵۰ g) were divided in ۴ experimental groups. Animal in control group (PTZ + Vehicle) received only PTZ. Animal in treated groups (PTZ + DZP, PTZ + CA۱۰ and PTZ + ۲۵) received diazepam ۲ mg/kg, CA ۱۰ mg/kg, or CA ۲۵ mg/kg. All drugs injection were performed  ۳۰ min prior to each PTZ injection. Epilepsy was induced by injection of subconvulsive dose of PTZ every other day until the rats were completely kindled or epileptic. After each PTZ injection, animal was monitored for ۴۰ min and epileptic behaviors were scored. At the end of the study, rats were sacrificed and the brains removed for evaluation of histological changes and Brain Derived Neurothrophic Factor (BDNF) gene expression.   Results: CA at dose of ۲۵ mg/kg reduced percent of Generalized Tonic-Clonic Seizure (GTCS) in aged rats (۲۴%) in compared to control group (۵۰%) (p < ۰.۰۵). The latencies to the start of GTCS were decreased in both dose of CA (p < ۰.۰۵). Also, the percent of survived neurons in rats treated with CA (۱۵۴%) were significantly higher relative to that of control animals (۱۰۰%) (p < ۰.۰۵). The mRNA levels of BDNF significantly increased in CA treated rats (p < ۰.۰۵).   Conclusion: Hence, these findings revealed that CA have antiepileptic, neuroprotective and trophic effects in aged rats. CA can protect aged brain from deteriorative processes and save neurons during epilepsy in rats.

Keywords:

Aging , Rat , Epilepsy , Chlorogenic Acid , Brain Derived Neurotropic Factor