Investigation of the anticonvulsant effects of venlafaxine in experimental epilepsy-induced rats with penicillin

In this project, we tested our working hypothesis that venlafaxine, an antidepressant drug, may have an anticonvulsant effect in epilepsy, which affects many people today and where new options for its effective treatment are being investigated. The aim of our project is to determine the effects of venlafaxine on electrophysiological recordings, oxidative stress and electrolyte parameters in order to evaluate the possible antiepileptic activity of venlafaxine in a model of penicillin induced epilepsy in rats. In our studies, 35 rats were divided into 5 groups. The rats were positioned to take the electrocorticography (ECoG) recordings, which measure the electrical activity of the brain. After measuring basal activity for 5 minutes, epilepsy was induced in all rats using penicillin (500 IU, 2.5 µl, icv). After 30 minutes of recording, saline was administered to the control group, 5 mg/kg diazem to the positive control group, and 50 mg/kg, 100 mg/kg, 150 mg/kg venlafaxine (0.1 ml, i.p.) to the other three groups. Then, ECoG recording was taken for 90 minutes and the experiment was terminated by taking blood samples from the rats. The spike wave counts and the amplitudes of the waves in the recordings were compared by dividing them into 5-minute segments. In addition, Total Antioxidant-Oxidant Level (TAS-TOS) and thiol measurements were determined by ELISA, electrolyte levels (Calcium, magnesium, sodium, potassium, chlorine) were determined by ion-selective electron methods in serum formed by centrifuging blood samples from rats. When the data were evaluated statistically, it was determined that 100 mg/kg and 150 mg/kg venfalaxin administration decreased spike wave counts compared to diazem and control groups, and kept the amplitude values at a similar level to the diazem group. In addition, it was observed that 100 mg/kg and 150 mg/kg venfalaxin administration increased TAS, calcium and magnesium levels compared to the control group. As a result, venlafaxine showed antiepileptic properties by decreasing spike wave counts and antioxidant properties by increasing TAS values. Venlafaxine may be an alternative and promising option in the treatment of epilepsy.