Modulatory effects of neuropeptides on pentylenetetrazol-induced epileptic seizures and neuroinflammation in rats

OBJECTIVE: We aimed to explore the effects of neuropeptides ghrelin, obestatin, and vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) on seizures and plasma concentrations of neuroinflammation biomarkers including calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP), substance-P (SP), and interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β) in pentylenetetrazol-induced seizures in rats. METHODS: Ghrelin (80 µg/kg), obestatin (1 µg/kg), VIP (25 ng/kg) or saline were administered to rats intraperitoneally 30 min before pentylenetetrazole (PTZ, 50 mg/kg) injections. Stages of epileptic seizures were evaluated by Racine's scale, and plasma CGRP, SP, and IL-1β concentrations were measured using ELISA. RESULTS: Both obestatin and VIP shortened onset-time of generalized tonic-clonic seizure, respectively, moreover VIP also shortened the onset-time of first myoclonic-jerk induced by PTZ. While PTZ increased plasma CGRP, SP and IL-1β concentrations, ghrelin reduced the increases evoked by PTZ. While VIP further increased PTZ-evoked CGRP levels, it diminished IL-1β concentrations. However, obestatin did not change CGRP, SP, and IL-1β concentrations. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that ghrelin acts as an anticonvulsant, obestatin acts as a proconvulsant, and VIP has dual action on epilepsy. Receptors of those neuropeptides may be promising targets for epilepsy treatment.