Anticonvulsant effect of pterostilbene and its influence on the anxiety- and depression-like behavior in the pentetrazol-kindled mice: behavioral, biochemical, and molecular studies

Rationale Pterostilbene is the 3,5-dimethoxy derivative of resveratrol with numerous beneficial effects including neuroprotective properties. Experimental studies revealed its anticonvulsant action in the acute seizure tests. Objectives The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the effect of pterostilbene in the pentetrazol (PTZ)–induced kindling model of epilepsy in mice as well as to assess some possible mechanisms of its anticonvulsant action in this model. Methods Mice were repeatedly treated with pterostilbene (50–200 mg/kg) and its effect on the development of seizure activity in the PTZ kindling was estimated. Influence of pterostilbene on the locomotor activity and anxiety- and depression-like behavior in the PTZ-kindled mice was also assessed. To understand the possible mechanisms of anticonvulsant activity of pterostilbene, γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and glutamate concentrations in the prefrontal cortex and hippocampus of the PTZ-kindled mice were measured using LC–MS/MS method. Moreover, mRNA expression of BDNF, TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, GABRA1A , and GRIN2B was determined by RT-qPCR technique. Results We found that pterostilbene at a dose of 200 mg/kg considerably reduced seizure activity but did not influence the locomotor activity and depression- and anxiety-like behavior in the PTZ-kindled mice. In the prefrontal cortex and hippocampus, pterostilbene reversed the kindling-induced decrease of GABA concentration. Neither in the prefrontal cortex nor hippocampus pterostilbene affected mRNA expression of IL-1β, IL-6, GABRA1A , and GRIN2B augmented by PTZ kindling. Pterostilbene at a dose of 100 mg/kg significantly decreased BDNF and TNF-α mRNA expression in the hippocampus of the PTZ-kindled mice. Conclusions Although further studies are necessary to understand the mechanism of anticonvulsant properties of pterostilbene, our findings suggest that it might be considered a candidate for a new antiseizure drug.