Effects of erythropoietin on the penicillin-induced epilepsy in rats

We aimed.to study the effects of dose 2000-4000-6000 IU / kg intraperitoneal of erythropoietin (Epo) which is a cytokine hormone on penicillin induced epilepsy by electrocorticography (ECoG) records.Thirty-nine adult, male Wistar-Albino rats weighing 200-250 g were used in experiments. Experimental groups planned as penicillin (control) grup, penicillin + 2000 I.U./kg Epo (n=10), penicillin + 4000 I.U./ kg Epo (n=9), penicillin + 6000 I.U./ kg Epo (n=10) groups. ECoG recordings were started under urethane anesthesia. While the record was taken epileptiform activity was achieved by application of 500 I.U./2.5 µl intracortical penicillin to all animals. After spike waves become stable indicated doses of Epo were injected intraperitoneally to the groups. More than 120 minutes were recorded. In the analysis of taken records, the spikes and spike waves (number/minutes) and amplitude values were evaluated 10 minutes before application of Epo and 10 minutes intervals in total 120 minutes after application of Epo. Intervals values of Epo after application compared to baseline values and changes were statistically analyzed. One-way variance analysis was used for comparisons and different groups were evaluated by Tukey Post hoc test.According to the results 2000 I.U./kg Epo did not cause significant changes in epileptiform activity of spike-wave (number/minute) and amplitudes. Whereas in 4000 and 6000 I.U./kg Epo grups compared to control the average number of spikes and sipkes waves (number/minutes) a statistically significant reduction was found (p < 0.05). Respectively in 4000 and 6000 I.U./kg Epo groups, the reduction effect of Epo was observed in the period between 11-60 minutes and 21-60. In both grups, no significant changes were observed in spike-wave amplitudes.The reducing effects of Epo on penicillin-induced epileptiform activity in rats suggest.tahat antiepileptic properties of this material can be benefited in the future.Key words: Erythropoietin, epilepsy, ECoG, rat, penisillin.