Fish oil provides protection against the oxidative stress in pilocarpine model of epilepsy

Abstract

Temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE), the most common form of epilepsy is often resistant to pharmacological treatment. Neuronal loss observed in epileptic brain may be result of an overproduction of free radicals (oxidative stress). Oxidative stress is characterized by an imbalance between antioxidant defenses and oxidizing agents (free radicals), which can lead to tissue injury. The n-3 PUFAs are important for the development and maintenance of central nervous system functions. Research by our group has shown that chronic treatment with fish oil, immediately after status epilepticus (SE), exhibits both neuroprotective effects and effects on neuroplasticity. The main purpose of this research was to evaluate if fish oil exhibits a protective effect against oxidative stress. Animals were subjected to TLE model by pilocarpine administration. After 3 h of SE they were randomly divided into the following groups: control animals treated daily with vehicle or with 85 mg/kg of fish oil and animals with epilepsy treated daily with vehicle or with 85 mg/kg of fish oil. After 90 days, superoxide anion production, enzymatic activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) and protein expression of NAD(P)H oxidase subunits (p47(PHOX) and gp91(PHOX)) were analyzed. Our results showed evidences that reactive oxygen species are increased in animals with epilepsy and that fish oil supplementation could counteract it. Fish oil supplementation promoted protection against oxidative stress by multiple ways, which involved the reduction of activity and expression of NAD(P)H oxidase subunits and increased the activity and expression of antioxidants enzymes, contributing to well-known neuroprotective effect in epilepsy.

Transcranial low‐level laser therapy in an in vivo model of stroke: Relevance to the brain infarct, microglia activation and neuroinflammation

“…The Ω‐3 (1 mL of fish oil for each 250 g of the animal's weight) was administered daily via gavage for 60 days. Each capsule (1 g) of fish oil (CATARINENSE, 85 mg/kg), containing 540 mg of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and 360 mg of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) was dissolved in Cremophor (Sigma) 0.009% and water distilled to provide a final concentration of 21.25 mg/mL of fish oil, which corresponds to 3.82 mg/mL of EPA and 2.55 mg/mL of DHA, according to Nejm [20].…”

Fish Oil Supplementation Reduces Heart Levels of Interleukin-6 in Rats with Chronic Inflammation due to Epilepsy

“…For Western blot analysis, samples were prepared as previously described by Nejm et al (10). The primary antibodies used were anti-IL-6 (Millipore-Chemicon, USA) and anti-β-actin (Sigma Aldrich, USA).…”

Functional Nutrients for Epilepsy

“…Using the pentylenetetrazole model of epilepsy, several researchers have demonstrated that n-3 PUFA administration increases SOD, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase activity and expression [122,124,133]. This relationship has been further supported by a different model of epilepsy, reinforcing the anti-oxidative function of n-3 PUFAs [134]. When a recent randomized clinical trial assessed cytokine levels after 16 weeks of n-3 PUFA treatment, TNF-α and IL-6 concentrations were found to significantly decrease in the supplemented group compared to the placebo group [9].…”