Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine ›› 2023, Vol. 43 ›› Issue (2): 286-294.DOI: 10.19852/j.cnki.jtcm.20220928.002

• Original articles • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Efficacy and mechanisms of Dingxian pill (定痫丸) combined with valproic acid on pentylenetetrazol-induced chronic epilepsy in rats

QU Dongxiao1, GE Yiqin2, ZHUO Limin4, CHEN Liji1, XUE Yonghua1,3, CHENG Jiwei1,3, TAO Jie1,3, LI Guoyi1,3, ZHU Yudan1(), XIAO Qian1()   

  1. 1 Department of Neurology and Central Laboratory, Putuo Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 200062, China
    2 Department of Neurosurgery, Jiading Branch of Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 201803, China
    3 Department of Neurology and Central Laboratory, Putuo Clinical Medical School, Anhui Medical University, Shanghai 200062, China
    4 College of Sciences, Shanghai University, Shanghai 200442, China
  • Received:2022-01-29 Accepted:2022-04-29 Online:2023-04-15 Published:2023-03-14
  • Contact: XIAO Qian, Department of Neurology, Putuo Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 200062, China. emilyand208@126.com; ZHU Yudan, Department of Central Laboratory, Putuo Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 200062, China. yudanzhu_putuo@foxmail.com. Telephone: +86-21-22233345
  • Supported by:
    National Natural Science Foundation of China: Molecular Mechanism Underlying the Intervention of Scorpion Extract BmK IT2 on Epileptogenesis via Voltage-gated Nav1.6 Channels in Hippocampal Neurons(81903995);Molecular Mechanism Underlying the Intervention of Scorpion Polypeptide MarTX on Temporal Lobe Epileptogenesis by Inhibiting Mechanosensitive Channel Piezo1(82074162);Youth Talent Promotion Project of China Association of Chinese Medicine(CACM-2019-QNRC2-C10);Project for Capacity Promotion of Putuo District Clinical Special Disease(Stroke, 2019tszb02);Science and Technology Innovation Project of Putuo District Health System: Molecular Mechanism of Aerobic Exercise Intervention on Post-epileptic Depression Through "Bone-brain Axis"(ptkwws202107);Antiepileptic Mechanism of Scorpion Active Extract BmK AS Regulating Nav1.6 Sodium Channel in Hippocampal Pyramidal Neurons(ptkwws201902);Evaluation of Microglial Lysosomal BK Channels as Molecular Targets for Clinical Treatment of Temporal Lobe Epilepsy(ptkwws201908);Molecular Mechanism of Sodium Channel SCN8A (Nav1.6) Mutation Mediating Epilepsy and Sodium Valproate Resistance in Children the Research Project of Putuo Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine(2019308);Molecular Mechanism of Sodium Channel SCN8A (Nav1.6) Mutation Mediating Epilepsy and Sodium Valproate Resistance in Children the Research Project of Putuo Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine(2019307)

Abstract:

OBJECIVE: To investigate the efficacy and mechanisms of Dingxian pill (定痫丸) combined with valproic acid (VPA) on pentylenetetrazol-induced chronical epilepsy in rats.

METHODS: A rat model of epilepsy was established by administering pentylenetetrazol (PTZ) water solution (35 mg/kg). Rats were divided into 4 groups, among which three groups were treated with different drugs once a day for 28 d including Dingxian pill (2.4 g/kg), VPA (0.2 g/kg), or a combination of Dingxian pill (2.4 g/kg) and VPA (0.2 g/kg) respectively, and the control group was given the same volume of saline. Rats in different groups were compared based on animal behavior, electroencephalograms, Morris water maze, immunohistochemistry, transcriptomics and real-time polymerase chain reaction.

RSULTS: The combination therapy of Dingxian pill and VPA inhibited PTZ-induced seizure-like behavior and reduced seizure grades more significantly than VPA alone. Compared with the control group, the learning and memory ability of chronic PTZ-induced epileptic rats was improved in all the drug treatment groups, especially in the group that received both Dingxian pill and VPA. Similar to the results of MWM tests, expression of the neuroexcitability marker gene c-Fos was reduced after Dingxian pill and/or VPA treatment, and the effect was most pronounced in the combined treatment group. Transcriptomic analysis revealed that gene expression in the rodent hippocampus, which is involved in epilepsy, was upregulated by combined treatment with Dingxian pill and VPA, compared with VPA treatment alone.

CONCLUSION: Our results not only highlight the anti-epileptic effects of combined Dingxian pill and VPA treatment, but also shed light on the underlying molecular mechanisms and provide a way to apply Traditional Chinese Medicine in the treatment of epilepsy.

Key words: epilepsy, Valproic Acid, learning, memory, transcriptome, Dingxian pill

Cite this article

QU Dongxiao, GE Yiqin, ZHUO Limin, CHEN Liji, XUE Yonghua, CHENG Jiwei, TAO Jie, LI Guoyi, ZHU Yudan, XIAO Qian. Efficacy and mechanisms of Dingxian pill (定痫丸) combined with valproic acid on pentylenetetrazol-induced chronic epilepsy in rats[J]. Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 2023, 43(2): 286-294.