Abstracts

Rationale: The neuroprotection after an initial insult as seizure activity is considered essential in order to avoid the establishment of epilepsy. The aim of this study was to evaluate the neuroprotective effects of Aristotelia chilensis (Maqui berry, MB) extract and Dapsone (D) on the epileptogenesis associated to the damage produced by status epilepticus induced with kainic acid (KA) in neonate rats. Methods: Male Sprague Dawley rats (96, 12 days old) were divided into 5 groups:  Control group (C), AK group, AKMB group, AKD group and AKMBD group with 3 evaluation time (24 h, 5 and 20 days). The kainic acid was administered once with a 3 mg/kg dose to induce status epilepticus. Seizure activity was assessed daily, The brains were obtained by craniotomy which were processed for immunofluorescence techniques to identify proinflammatory proteins (NFkB, IL-1 β and COX2 and immunoperoxidase for GFAP) and assess the damage by Fluorojade-stain, and other brains were processed for western blot to quantify NFkB, IL-1 β and COX2. Results: The Maqui berry extract reduced the number of seizures at 17 and 32 PN days, as well as the number of cells on degeneration process and the expression of pro-inflammatory proteins at 24 h after kainic acid injection, as compared with AK (P < 0.05), however Dapsone had a greater effect in reducing the number of seizures at 17 and 32 PN days, the number of cells on degeneration process and also reduced the relative expression of pro-inflammatory proteins at 24 h after seizures. Conclusions: Maqui berry extract has neuroprotective and anti-inflamatory effects, these effects were greater with Dapsone. This study suggests that early intervention on the inflammation and antioxidant pathways reduces the risk of developing epilepsy. Funding: The authors express their gratitude to the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness (MINECO) and the Iberian-American Program for Cooperation and Development (CYTED) (Ref. 112RT0460)—CORNUCOPIA Thematic Network (URL: redcornucopia.org).