Differences in vulnerability to nicotine-induced kindling between female and male periadolescent rats

Abstract

These novel findings indicate that female periadolescent rats develop nicotine-kindled seizures earlier than their male counterparts. Differences in the oxidative balance may be involved in this mechanism.

N-acetylcysteine attenuates nicotine-induced kindling in female periadolescent rats

“…Nicotine was administered every weekday for a period of 19 days. This time period was the best for the induction of kindling in female periadolescent animals (Gomes et al 2013). Because at the beginning of the experiments when the rats were periadolescents we conducted a weekly evaluation to determine the occurrence of vaginal opening, which indicates the commencement of the estrous cycle.…”

“…For kindling induction the rats were submitted to a daily (Monday to Friday) intraperitoneal administration of NIC 2 mg/kg (nicotine hemisulfate salt -Sigma-Aldrich, St. Louis, MO, USA). This dose was based on our previous study (Gomes et al 2013), while the protocol for kindling induction was adapted from Bastlund et al (2005).…”

“…In line with the importance of oxidative alterations in seizures and kindling we recently observed that female periadolescent rats presented lower striatal levels of GSH and SOD and increased lipid peroxidation in the prefrontal cortex (PFC), hippocampus (HC) and striatum (ST) when compared to their male counterparts. These alterations may partially explain the earlier development of nicotine-induced full-blown kindled seizures by females periadolescent rats (median time of 19 days) when compared to age-matched males (median time of 24 days) (Gomes et al 2013). Furthermore, we also observed the preventive effect of vitamin E against NIC-kindling development (Gomes et al 2013).…”

“…These alterations may partially explain the earlier development of nicotine-induced full-blown kindled seizures by females periadolescent rats (median time of 19 days) when compared to age-matched males (median time of 24 days) (Gomes et al 2013). Furthermore, we also observed the preventive effect of vitamin E against NIC-kindling development (Gomes et al 2013).…”

“…We hypothesized that since oxidative mechanisms (i.e. decreased brain levels of GSH and increased lipid peroxidation) are related to the increased vulnerability of female periadolescent rats to the development of NIC-induced kindling (Gomes et al 2013), NAC could prevent kindling development by the maintenance of brain oxidative balance.…”