In the present study we investigated the effects of
lipoic acid (LA) on delta-aminolevulinic
dehydratase (delta-ALA-D) and Na(+), K(+)-
ATPase activities in rat brain after
seizures induction by
pilocarpine. Wistar rats were treated with
0.9% saline (i.p., control group),
lipoic acid (10mg/kg, i.p., LA group),
pilocarpine (400mg/kg, i.p.,
pilocarpine group), or the combination of LA (10mg/kg, i.p.) with
pilocarpine (400mg/kg, i.
p.), 30 min before administration of LA (
LA plus pilocarpine group). After the treatments all groups were observed for 1h. The
enzyme activities (delta-ALA-D and Na(+), K(+)-
ATPase) were measured using spectrophotometric methods, and the results were compared with that obtained from saline and
pilocarpine-treated animals.
Neuroprotective effects of LA against
seizures were evaluated based on those
enzyme activities. The
pilocarpine group showed a reduction in delta-ALA-D and Na(+), K(+)-
ATPase activities after
seizures. In turn,
LA plus pilocarpine abolished the appearance of
seizures and reversed the decreased in delta-ALA-D and Na(+), K(+)-
ATPase activities produced by
seizures, when compared to the
pilocarpine seizing group. The results from the present study demonstrate that preadministration of LA abolished seizure episodes induced by
pilocarpine in rat, probably by increasing delta-ALA-D and Na(+), K(+)-
ATPase activities in rat brain during
seizures.