DefinePK

Abstract

Background and Objective: Temporal Lobe Epilepsy (TLE), accompanied by cognitive impairment, is known for its drug resistance. Compound Danshen Dripping Pills (CDDP), a widely used Chinese Traditional Medicine (TDM), is an effective complementary medicine for the clinical treatment of TLE. The present work was aimed to explore the curative effect of co-administration of CDDP and valproic acid (VPA) in the kainic acid (KA)-induced TLE rat model. Materials and Methods: Male Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were stochastically divided into five groups (n = 60): Saline, Model, CDDP, VPA and VPA+CDDP groups. TLE model was established via stereotactic injections of KA. VPA (189 mg kg&#150;1), CDDP (85 mg kg&#150;1) or combined VPA (189 mg kg&#150;1) and CDDP (85 mg kg&#150;1) were respectively administered to rats in the treatment groups via i.g. for 60 days. Cognitive function was evaluated by the radial-arm maze and surviving neuron cells were observed and counted using Nissl staining. The expression of genes and proteins of the apoptosis factors caspase-3 and caspase-8 was detected by real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR and Western Blot. Results: Compared with the Model group, memory and learning skills were improved (p<0.01) and neuronal cell death in the CA3 region was alleviated (p<0.01) with co-administration treatment of VPA and CDDP. The mRNA and protein expression of caspase-3 and caspase-8 in the VPA+CDDP group was both attenuated. Conclusion: VPA combined with CDDP could reduce neuronal damage and cognitive impairment with the possible mechanism to inhibit apoptosis by regulating apoptosis factors like caspase-3 and caspase-8.