Ação farmacológica do 3-alquinil selenofeno em modelos de convulsão em ratos jovens

Abstract

Seizures have important consequences in terms of mortality and quality of life of the affected population, being a risk factor for the development of cognitive and behavioral abnormalities. Considering the promising pharmacological properties of molecules containing selenium, in article 1, we evaluated the anticonvulsant action of 1-(2,5-diphenylselenophen-3-yl)-3-methylpent-1-yn-3-ol, generically called 3-alkynyl selenophene (3-ASP) against seizures induced by pilocarpine (PC), pentylenetetrazole (PTZ) and kainate (KA) in 21-days-old rats. Animals were pre-treated with 3-ASP (10, 25 or 50 mg/kg; per oral, p.o.) or vehicle, 30 minutes before of intraperitoneally administration of PC (400 mg/kg), PTZ (80 mg/kg) or KA (45 mg/kg). 3-ASP pre-treatment (50 mg/kg) abolished seizures and the death induced by PC administration. 3-ASP (50 mg/kg) increased the latency to the first convulsive episode, as well as decreased the mortality and incidence of seizures caused by PTZ and KA. In article 1, the antioxidant activity of 3-ASP (10, 25 or 50 mg/kg; p.o.) against the oxidative stress induced by PC (400 mg/kg, i.p.) in 21-days-old rats was evaluated. Our results demonstrated that 3-ASP pre-treatment was effective in protecting against the inhibition of cerebral activity of superoxide dismutase, decreased ascorbic acid levels, stimulation of catalase activity and increase of reactive species levels caused by PC. Additionally, 3-ASP protected against the inhibition of acetylcholinesterase and Na+, K+-ATPase activities resulting from convulsions induced by PC. The involvement of glutamatergic and GABAergic systems in the anticonvulsant action of 3-ASP was investigated (Articles 1 and 2). The combination of sub-effective doses of 3-ASP (10 mg/kg, p.o.) and diazepam (GABA agonist; 0,5 mg/kg, i.p.), 5S,10R-(+)-5-methyl-10,11-dihydro- 5H-dibenzo[a,d]cyclohepten-5,10-imine maleate (MK-801, a non-competitive N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonist; 0.1mg/kg, i.p.) or 6,7-dinitroquinoxaline-2,3-dione (DNQX, a non-NMDA receptor antagonist; 5 mg/kg, i.p.) was effective in increasing the latency to the first convulsive episode, as well as, in decreasing the incidence of convulsions induced by PC. On the other hand, the combination of 3-ASP and 2-methyl-6-phenylethynyl pyridine hydrochloride (MPEP, an antagonist of metabotropic glutamate receptor mGluR5; 0,5 mg/kg, i.p.) did not protect against convulsions. The oral administration of 3-ASP (50 mg/kg) caused an inhibition of 64% and 58% of GABA uptake in the cortex and hippocampus, respectively. However, no change in glutamate uptake after 3-ASP administration (50 mg/kg) was found. Additionally, in article 2, we investigated the possible interaction between sub-effective doses of 3-ASP and GABA uptake or GABA transaminase (GABA-T) inhibitors against PC-induced seizures in 21-days-old rats. To this, sub-effective doses of 3-ASP (10 mg/kg; p.o.) and DL-2,4-diamino-n-butyric acid hydrochloride (DABA, an inhibitor of GABA uptake; 2 mg/kg; i.p.) or aminooxyacetic acid hemihydrochloride (AOAA; a GABA-T inhibitor; 10 mg/kg, i.p.) were co-administrated in 21-days-old rats before of PC administration (400 mg/kg). The treatment with 3-ASP and DABA abolished the PC-induced seizures. Similar results were found when sub-effective doses of 3-ASP and AOAA were administrated in 21-days-old rats. Finally, in the article 3 we investigated the effect of 3-ASP or diazepam against convulsions, the increased susceptibility to the development of seizures and long term memory impairment resulting from febrile seizures induced by hyperthermia. 21-Days-old rats were pre-treated with 3-ASP (25, 50 or 100 mg/kg; p.o), diazepam (1 or 5 mg/kg; i.p.) or vehicle. After the treatment, animals were exposed to a stream of heated air to approximately 41°C. Thirty days after the exposure to hyperthermia, the susceptibility to the development of seizures and long term memory impairment were evaluated. We verified that the pre-treatment with 3-ASP or diazepam did not protect against stereotyped behavior, facial automatisms and body flexion induced by hyperthermia. The protective effect of 3-ASP (100 mg/kg) against the increased susceptibility to the development of seizures and long term memory impairment resulting from febrile seizures induced by hyperthermia was demonstrated. Diazepam (1 or 5 mg/kg) did not protect against long term memory impairment caused by febrile seizures. In addition, diazepam (1 mg/kg) treatment caused a significant cognitive impairment in animals kept at room temperature. These results suggest that 3-ASP had anticonvulsant action in 21-days-old rats and that this action appears to be mediated by glutamatergic and GABAergic systems. In addition, the anticonvulsant action of 3-ASP seems to be associated with its antioxidant activity. Finally, 3-ASP can represent an important tool to protect against increased susceptibility to seizures and cognitive impairment resulting from febrile seizures.