Experimentally induced various inflammatory models and seizure: Understanding the role of cytokine in rat

BackgroundThe mechanism of epileptogenesis is not well established. There is higher incidence of seizures among patients with chronic inflammatory disease. Cytokines are rapidly induced in the brain after a variety of stimuli including inflammation. Aim of this study was to produce various inflammatory models and seizure to understand the role of TNFα in above mentioned models.Materials and methodsA total of 54 male rats were included in the study. Animals were divided into 3 groups of colitis, arthritis, and cotton wool granuloma. Each group had 3 subgroups of control, model and treatment. At the end of 3 days in colitis, 17 days in arthritis and 7 days in cotton wool granuloma groups a subconvulsive dose of PTZ (40 mg/kg i.p) was injected to note seizure onset and seizure score. Brain samples were subjected to DNA fragmentation testing. Presence of inflammation was confirmed by morphology and histology. Plasma and brain TNFα levels were measured.ResultsThe models of colitis, arthritis and CWG were effectively produced as evidenced by morphology and histology scores (p < 0.001). Seizure onset was reduced and grade was increased (p < 0.001). Thalidomide reduced the morphological, histological (p < 0.002), DNA fragmentation and seizure grade (p < 0.001) while increased seizure onset (p < 0.001) in the arthritis group. TNFα levels in both plasma and brain were reduced following thalidomide treatment (p < 0.002) in arthritis group. There were no significant findings in colitis or cotton wool granuloma groups.ConclusionInflammation was associated with decreased threshold to PTZ induced seizure. Thalidomide is effective in reducing the extent of arthritis as well as reducing the seizure scoring and increasing seizure onset in the adjuvant arthritis group. Thalidomide was also effective in reducing TNFα levels thus contributing to its antiepileptic activity.