Effect of Long-lasting Phenobarbital Administration on the Volume of Hippocampal Regions in Rat

Document Type : Original Article(s)

Authors

1 Assistant Professor, Department of Anatomy, School of Medicine, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran

2 Associate Professor, Department of pharmacology and toxicology, School of Pharmacy, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran

3 Department of pharmacology and toxicology, School of Pharmacy, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

Abstract

Among the antiepileptic drugs, Phenobarbital (PB) has the highest potential for adverse effects on cognition and behavior. The memory formation process depends on the integrity of hippocampus neuronal circuits. This study aimed to determine the volumetric alterations of Dentate Gyrus (DG) and Cornu Ammonis of hippocampus following long-term administration of PB. Background: 20 male Wistar rats were divided into four groups (control and 3 experimental groups). Control animals were received saline and experimental groups were received phenobarbital intraperitoneally at doses of 50, 75 and 100 mg/kg daily for 45 days. The posterior region of the brain (which contains hippocampus) was cut into serial 25 µm thick sections. Every 20th section was selected with systematic random sampling. The unbiased stereological Cavallieri method was used to determine the volume of the layers of hippocampal subfields. Methods: Our results showed the significant effect of PB on the volume of layers of DG, CA1 and CA3 of rat's hippocampus. Comparisons showed that the volumes of different layers in above-mentioned regions were significantly decreased following PB administration at 75 and 100 mg/kg doses. Findings: Long-term effect of PB on the volume of hippocampal regions is dose dependent. It is essential that the dose of PB be kept at a minimum effective dose to reduce its negative effects. It is also can be suggested that the CA1 volume reduction may be relevant to the reported impairment of learning and memory in PB treated patients. Conclusion: Phenobarbital, Hippocampus, experimental study Key words:  
Journal of Isfahan Medical School
Volume 26, Issue 91 - Serial Number 91
September and October 2009

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History

  • Receive Date: 07 November 2010
  • Revise Date: 25 April 2024
  • Accept Date: 06 April 2022

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