Hippocampal apoptosis [Neurosurgery Wiki]

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====== Hippocampal apoptosis ======

The [[hippocampus]] is susceptible to [[damage]] in [[patient]]s with [[epilepsy]] and in [[animal]]s with [[seizure]]s caused by excitotoxic agents. The effect of vitamin D on [[hippocampal apoptosis]] related with [[seizure]]s has not been reported. However, epileptic patients have an increased risk of [[hypovitaminosis D]] which is most likely due to the effects of [[antiepileptic drug]]s. Therefore, in a study of Şahin et al., from [[Trabzon]], it was aimed to evaluate the effects of [[vitamin D]] on hippocampal apoptosis related with [[seizure]]s by using [[pentylenetetrazol]] (PTZ) and [[kainic acid]] (KA) in [[rat]]s.

Male [[Sprague Dawley rat]]s, aged 5.5 weeks, were randomly divided into six groups: control, vitamin D, PTZ, KA, PTZ + vitamin D and KA + vitamin D groups. The groups that received vitamin D were given 500 IU/kg of vitamin D daily for two weeks in addition to a standard diet. At the end of this period, PTZ and KA were applied to trigger seizures in the rats in the seizure groups. 24 h after the administration of PTZ and KA, the rats were decapitated. In the [[hippocampal region]], apoptosis was assessed by TUNEL and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), Bax, caspase-3 and c-fos activation were evaluated by immunohistochemical method.

BDNF level increased while c-fos, Bax and caspase-3 levels decreased (p < 0.0001, in all) in the hippocampal neurons of the groups that were pre-treated with vitamin D before the administration of PTZ and KA, in comparison with the PTZ and KA groups. Vitamin D significantly decreased the number of apoptotic cells in these rats in comparison with the PTZ and KA groups (p < 0.0001).

This study indicates that vitamin D has [[neuroprotective]] effects on hippocampal apoptosis induced by PTZ and KA in rats. With this study it is suggested that keeping vitamin D levels within normal limits may be beneficial for patients with epilepsy, especially children
((Şahin S, Gürgen SG, Yazar U, İnce İ, Kamaşak T, Acar Arslan E, Diler Durgut B,
Dilber B, Cansu A. Vitamin D protects against hippocampal apoptosis related with 
seizures induced by kainic acid and pentylenetetrazol in rats. Epilepsy Res. 2018
Dec 15;149:107-116. doi: 10.1016/j.eplepsyres.2018.12.005. [Epub ahead of print] 
PubMed PMID: 30584976.
)).