Title:The Effects of Vitamin D3 and Melatonin Combination on Pentylenetetrazole-
induced Seizures in Mice
Volume: 22
Issue: 2
Author(s): Azam Hosseinzadeh, Ehsan Dehdashtian, Majid Jafari-Sabet and Saeed Mehrzadi*
Affiliation:
- Razi Drug Research Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Keywords:
Seizures, epilepsy, melatonin, vitamin D3, oxidative stress, pharmacology.
Abstract:
Background: Epileptic seizures are associated with the overproduction of free radicals
in the brain leading to neuronal cell death. Therefore, reduction of oxidative stress may inhibit seizure-
induced neuronal cell damage. The current study evaluated the effects of Vit D3 and melatonin
and their combination on pentylenetetrazol (PTZ)-induced tonic-clonic seizures in mice.
Methods: Animals were divided into six groups. Group I was administered with normal saline (0.5
ml, intraperitoneally (i.p.)) on the 15th day of the experiment. Group II was injected with PTZ (60
mg/kg dissolved in 0.5 ml normal saline, i.p) on the 15th day. Groups III-IV were treated with diazepam
(4 mg/kg/day), Vit D3 (6000 IU/kg/day), melatonin (20 mg/kg/day), and Vit D3 (6000
IU/kg/day)/melatonin (20 mg/kg/day), respectively, and were then injected with PTZ (60 mg/kg)
on the 15th day of the experiment. Immediately after the injection of PTZ on the 15th day, mice
were observed for a 30-min period to measure seizure latency and duration. For determination of
oxidative stress markers, malondialdehyde (MDA) level and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity
were measured in mouse brains.
Results: Treatment with Vit D3, melatonin, and Vit D3/melatonin significantly increased seizure
latency and decreased seizure duration. The brain level of MDA was lower, and SOD activity was
greater than in the PTZ group. Mice treated with Vit D3/melatonin had lower seizure duration than
other treated groups.
Conclusions: The combination of Vit D3 and melatonin may reduce seizure frequency in epileptic
patients; this effect may result from various mechanisms, including inhibition of oxidative stress.