Drug Week via NewsEdge :

2008 JUN 20 - (NewsRx.com) -- A report, 'Activation of cerebral peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors gamma exerts neuroprotection by inhibiting oxidative stress following pilocarpine-induced status epilepticus,' is newly published data in Brain Research (see also Epilepsy Therapy). "Status epilepticus (SE) can cause severe neuronal loss and oxidative damage. As peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARgamma) agonists possess antioxidative activity, we hypothesize that rosiglitazone, a PPARgamma agonist, might protect the central nervous system (CNS) from oxidative damage in epileptic rats," scientists in People's Republic of China report.

"Using a lithium-pilocarpine-induced SE model, we found that rosiglitazone significantly reduced hippocampal neuronal loss 1 week after SE, potently suppressed the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and lipid peroxidation. We also found that treatment with rosiglitazone enhanced antioxidative activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione hormone (GSH), together with decreased expression of heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) in the hippocampus. The above effects of rosiglitazone can be blocked by co-treatment with PPARgamma antagonist T0070907. The current data suggest that rosiglitazone exerts a neuroprotective effect on oxidative stress-mediated neuronal damage followed by SE," wrote X. Yu and colleagues, Fourth Military Medical University, Department of Neurology.

The researchers concluded: "Our data also support the idea that PPARgamma agonist might be a potential neuroprotective agent for epilepsy."

Yu and colleagues published their study in Brain Research (Activation of cerebral peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors gamma exerts neuroprotection by inhibiting oxidative stress following pilocarpine-induced status epilepticus. Brain Research, 2008;1200():146-58).

For more information, contact X. Yu, Xijing Hospital Fourth Military Medical University, Xijing Hospital Fourth Military Medical University, Dept. of Neurology, 17 Changle West Road, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710032, China.

Publisher contact information for the journal Brain Research is: Elsevier Science BV, PO Box 211, 1000 AE Amsterdam, Netherlands.

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