Effects of erythropoietin pretreatment on single dose pentylentetrazole-induced seizures in rats

Although it is accepted that prolonged and repeated seizures can cause epileptogenesis, memory deficits and neuronal death, the precise relation between epileptic seizures and neuronal death remains unclear. Erythropoietin (EPO) exhibits neuroprotective and anti-epileptic effects. We investigated the effect of a single pentylentetrazole (PTZ) induced tonic-clonic seizure on the pyramidal neurons of the cornu ammonis 1 (CA1) and CA3 regions of hippocampus. We also investigated the effects of EPO on seizure, memory and on brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), tyrosine receptor kinase-B, sirtuin-1 (SIRT1), which are important for memory. Forty male rats were divided into four groups: control, saline treated, single 60 mg/kg dose PTZ treated, 3000 IU/kg EPO treated, and 3000 IU/kg EPO treated 24 h before PTZ administration. Seizure latency and severity were assessed following PTZ injection. A passive avoidance test was performed 24 h after seizure. BDNF, TrkB and SIRT1 levels were measured in serum, hippocampus and cortex. The hippocampus was examined histologically, and neuronal nuclear antigen (NeuN) was investigated using immunohistochemistry. EPO pretreatment decreased seizure severity and prolonged seizure latency. Single dose PTZ-induced seizures did not affect memory. Numbers of cells in the CA1 region did not change, although the number of dark stained neuron increased. Both total cell numbers and percentage of dark stained cells were elevated in the CA3 region following PTZ induced seizures. EPO pretreatment decreased the number of dark cells in both CA1 and CA3 regions and the number of cells in the CA3 region. NeuN labeling was unchanged in the CA1 and CA3 regions in the PTZ group; however, EPO pretreatment increased NeuN labeling in the CA3 region. Although EPO exhibited an anticonvulsive effect, single dose EPO pretreatment did not affect memory in either animals not exposed to PTZ or animals that had been subjected to PTZ-induced seizures. EPO pretreatment prolonged seizure latency and reduced seizure severity after PTZ-induced seizures. The anti-seizure and neuroprotective effects of EPO pretreatment may be due to the protection of CA1 and CA3 neurons, possibly owing to SIRT1 and BDNF activity.