Long-term valproate treatment increases brain neuropeptide Y expression and decreases seizure expression in a genetic rat model of absence epilepsy.
basic_science · Level V
Where this comes from
- Record sourced from PubMed, PMID 24039965.
- Also identified by DOI 10.1371/journal.pone.0073505 and PMC identifier 3767750.
- Licence recorded as CC BY.
- The licence permits redistribution, so the abstract is shown in full and the full text is available from the publisher.
Abstract
The mechanisms by which valproate, one of the most widely prescribed anti-epileptic drugs, suppresses seizures have not been fully elucidated but may involve up-regulation of neuropeptide Y (NPY). We investigated the effects of valproate treatment in Genetic Absence Epilepsy Rats from Strasbourg (GAERS) on brain NPY mRNA expression and seizure control. GAERS were administered either valproate (42 mg.kg(-1) hr(-1)) or saline continuously for 5 days. Electroencephalograms were recorded for 24 hrs on treatment days 1, 3 and 5 and the percentage of time spent in seizure activity was analysed. NPY mRNA expression was measured in different brain regions using qPCR. Valproate treatment suppressed seizures by 80% in GAERS (p<0.05) and increased NPY mRNA expression in the thalamus (p<0.05) compared to saline treatment. These results demonstrate that long-term valproate treatment results in an upregulation of thalamic expression of NPY implicating this as a potential contributor to the mechanism by which valproate suppresses absence seizures.
Medical subject headings
- Anticonvulsants
- Epilepsy, Absence
- Neuropeptide Y
- Up-Regulation
- Valproic Acid