Anti-seizure effects of walnut peptides in mouse models of induced seizure: The involvement of GABA and nitric oxide pathways

• DOI: 10.1016/j.eplepsyres.2021.106727
• Publication Date: 2021-07-16T16:28:00Z
• Authors: Raheleh Jahanbani; Erfan Bahramnejad; Nastaran Rahimi; Hamed Shafaroodi; Nader Sheibani; Ali Akbar Moosavi...; Ahmad Reza Dehpour; Kourosh Vahdati
• Keywords: Seizure threshold; Convulsion; Flumazenil; Epileptic seizure; Kindling model

Epilepsy is one of the foremost medical disorders. Oxidative stress is a well-known mechanism in epileptogenesis, and many studies suggest that oxidative stress affects the onset and evolution of epilepsy. Here we evaluated the walnut peptide extracts' anti-seizure property in three different mouse seizure models including pentylenetetrazole-induced clonic seizure, chemical kindling, and maximal electroshock. Walnut peptides (20 mg/Kg) were administered by intraperitoneal (IP) injection of mice 60 min before seizure induction in the three models. To delineate the mechanisms of walnut peptides anti-seizure activity, we evaluated the impact of diazepam, flumazenil, and a NOS inhibitor on this activity. Intraperitoneal administration of walnut peptides significantly increased the seizure threshold. Our results also demonstrated that walnut peptides exert their anti-seizure properties through the modulation of benzodiazepine receptors. Thus, walnut peptides may be considered as a new anti-convulsion agent, which can reduce seizure occurrence and slow down seizure progression.