Epilepsy is a disorder characterized by recurrent
seizures, which can increase the content of reactive
oxygen in the brain.
Active oxygen free radical scavengers such as
ascorbic acid or
alpha-tocopherol (
vitamin E) might prevent
epilepsy. A variety of animal seizure models exist which help to document the effects of
vitamin E and specify its action. In this study, we have evaluated dose-dependent effect of
alpha-tocopherol on
penicillin-induced epileptiform activity, analyzed by electrocorticogram (ECoG). The epileptiform activity was induced by microinjection of
penicillin into the left sensorimotor cortex. Thirty minutes after
penicillin injection, 100, 300, or 500 mg/kg of
alpha-tocopherol was administrated intramuscularly (i.m.).
alpha-Tocopherol (100, 300, or 500 mg/kg) alone did not significantly change the spike amplitudes in non-
penicillin pretreated control animals.
alpha-Tocopherol of 300, or 500 mg/kg significantly decreased the frequency of epileptiform activity in the
penicillin-pretreated animals. The low dose of
alpha-tocopherol (100 mg/kg) did not significantly change either amplitude or frequency of epileptiform activity.
alpha-Tocopherol of 500 mg/kg i.m. was the most effective dose in changing of frequency on
penicillin-induced epileptiform activity. The anti-
convulsant effects of
alpha-tocopherol appeared 80, 60, 30 min after
alpha-tocopherol injection in 300, 500, and 3 day
vitamin E supplemented groups. These data indicate that
alpha-tocopherol decreases the frequency of
penicillin-induced epileptic activity.