Abstract:

Objective     To investigate the effects of an anti-epileptic compound on  learning-memory ability of epileptic mice induced by pentetrazole. Methods     Sixty healthy mature male mice were randomly divided into 6 groups (n=10 in each group): the control group, the model group, three groups of the anti-epileptic compound at large, medium and small doses, and the sodium valproate group. Three groups of the anti-epileptic compound were intragastrically adminstered with doses of 14.8mg/g, 7.4mg/g or 3.7mg/g, and the treatment lasted for 7 days. The seizure model was established and water maze tests were conducted to evaluate the rats′ learning-memory ability. Results      Compared to the control group, the escape latency extended and the ratio of mistakes increased in the model group(P<0.05); Compared with the model group and sodium valproate group, the escape latency shortened and the ratio of mistakes significantly decreased in all three anti-epileptic compound groups(P<0.05). In comparison with the model group, the escape latency and the ratio of mistakes made by mice increased in the sodium valproate group (P>0.05). Conclusion       Learning and memory ability was reduced in the model group and the sodium valproate group. The anti-epileptic compound can shorten the escape latency and decrease the ratio of mistakes. It can obviously improve the spatial learning memory ability in epileptic mice induced by pentetrazole at different doses.

Key words: Epilepsy; Model, animal; Antiepileptic compound; Learning and memory; Water maze test; Escape latency; Ratio of mistake