The effect of berberine on expression Glial fibrillary acidic protein and Neural cell adhesion molecule in an experimental model of temporal lobe epilepsy in rats

Introduction & Objective: Temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) is a chronic nervous disease and is the most prevalent local epilepsy in adults that is usually resistant to common medical treatment. Glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) & neural cell adhesion molecule (NCAM) are important markers that will increase in TLE. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of berberine with known neuroprotective potential on the GFAP & NACM level of hippocampal tissue in the kainate-induced epileptic rats.Methods and Materials: In this experimental study 28 rats were randomly divided into 4 groups: 1.Sham, 2.Sham with Berberine pretreatment, 3.Kainate, 4. Kainate with Berberine pretreatment. Acid Kainic injection in hippocampal tissue was used for induction of TLE. Rats received 50mg/kg of berberine daily prior to surgery for 1week. Seizure incidence was recorded in the first 24 hours after surgery based on Racine method. At the end GFAP & NACM level of hippocampal tissue were evaluated. Findings: The results of this study showed that kainic acid injection increased seizure incidence and level of GFAP & NACM (P<0.05). Pretreatment with berberine significantly decreased the seizure incidence and GFAP & NACM level ofhippocampal tissue in the berberine pretreated kinate group versus Kainate group (P<0.05). Conclusion: Pretreatment with Berberine could lower seizure incidence and decrease the GFAP & NACM level of hippocampal tissue in the kainate-induced epileptic rats.

Keywords:

Temporal Lobe Epilepsy , Kainic acid , Berberine , Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein , Neural Cell Adhesion molecule