The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of an
antioxidant vineatrol against
kainic acid-induced
seizures, markers of oxidative stress and expression of
heat shock protein in brain. In rats,
kainic acid (10 mg/kg i.p.) induced long lasting
seizures, associated behavioral symptoms and brain damage and significantly increased level of brain
malondialdehyde (MDA) (283 +/- 42 nmol/g wet tissue) as compared to control (173.3 +/- 10.2 nmol/g wet tissue). Pretreatment (5 min) of
vineatrol (10, 20 and 40 mg/kg i.p.) could not inhibit the convulsions though the latency was significantly increased with 20 and 40 mg/kg. However when the
drug was administrated 5 min prior and repeated at 30 and 90 min after
kainic acid there was significant reduction in incidence of convulsions. The brain MDA levels were also found to be significantly attenuated, however the
glutathione levels were not different in control,
kainic acid and
vineatrol treated animals. Expression of
heat shock protein (HSP) 72 was observed in the
kainic acid per se group indicating neurotoxicity as compared to the control group and was reduced by
vineatrol. The study suggests the potential use of
vineatrol in
status epilepticus.