Anticonvulsant, neuroprotective and behavioral effects of magnesium sulfate on pentylenetetrazol-induced seizures in male wistar rats

Naghmeh Moghimi,1,* Akram eidi,2 pejman mortazavi,3 Ali haeri rohani,4

1. Department of Biology, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
2. Department of Biology, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
3. Department of Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
4. Department of Biology, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran

Abstract

Introduction

magnesium (mg2+) is the second most abundant divalent and ubiquitous intracellular cation in mammalian cells and an essential cofactor that activates atpases. magnesium is an important modulator of intracellular free ca2+ concentration, secretion, motility and proliferation. the present study was designed to assess the effect of magnesium sulfate on behavioral and histochemical alterations in pentylenetetrazole (ptz)-induced epileptic adult rats.

Methods

The rats were randomly divided into 8 groups: normal control, magnesium sulfate (0.05, 0.1, and 0.2 g/kg intragastrically, daily) alone, seizuric control rats (ptz, 35 mg/kg, i.p.), magnesium sulfate (0.05, 0.1, and 0.2 g/kg intragastrically, daily) together with ptz, and treatment was performed accordingly. administration of magnesium sulfate (0.05, 0.1 and 0.2 g/kg) was started 1.5 h before the first dose of ptz and continued up to 28 days. the learning and memory behavior was assessed by a passive avoidance test 28 days after the first dose. the rats were sacrificed on day 29 and glial fibrillary acidic protein (gfap) level was measured in brain homogenate. histopathological changes were examined by bielschowsky staining.

Results

Our results showed that administration of magnesium sulfate (0.1 and 0.2 g/kg) significantly improved ptz-induced cognitive impairment. magnesium sulfate decreased the levels of gfap in brain homogenate. histopathological examination showed that magnesium sulfate decreased cell loss in cerebral cortex and hippocampus in epileptic rats.

Conclusion

These results indicate that magnesium sulfate is effective in providing protection against memory deficit and neuronal damage induced by ptz.

Keywords

Magnesium sulfate; pentylenetetrazole; seizure; rat