Behavioral deficit and decreased GABA receptor functional regulation in the cerebellum of epileptic rats: Effect of Bacopa monnieri and bacoside A

• Published in: Epilepsy & behavior Vol. 17; no. 4; pp. 441 - 447
• Main Authors: Mathew, Jobin, Peeyush Kumar, T, Khan, Reas S, Paulose, C.S
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 01-04-2010
• Subjects: Animals; Anticonvulsants - therapeutic use; Bacopa monnieri; Bacoside A; Behavioral Symptoms - drug therapy; Behavioral Symptoms - etiology; Bicuculline - pharmacokinetics; Carbamazepine; Carbamazepine - therapeutic use; Cerebellum - drug effects; Disease Models, Animal; Epilepsy; Epilepsy - chemically induced; Epilepsy - complications; Epilepsy - drug therapy; Epilepsy - pathology; GABA Antagonists - pharmacokinetics; GABA receptor; gamma-Aminobutyric Acid - pharmacokinetics; Male; Maze Learning - drug effects; Neurology; Phytotherapy - methods; Pilocarpine; Plant Preparations - therapeutic use; Protein Binding - drug effects; Rats; Rats, Wistar; Receptors, GABA - metabolism; Saponins - therapeutic use; Triterpenes - therapeutic use; Tritium - pharmacokinetics; GABA receptor; Bacoside A; Pilocarpine; Bacopa monnieri; Epilepsy; Carbamazepine
• ISSN: 1525-5050; 1525-5069
• DOI: 10.1016/j.yebeh.2010.01.012

Abstract In the present study, the effects of Bacopa monnieri and its active component, bacoside A, on motor deficit and alterations of GABA receptor functional regulation in the cerebellum of epileptic rats were investigated. Scatchard analysis of [3 H]GABA and [3 H]bicuculline in the cerebellum of epileptic rats revealed a significant decrease in Bmax compared with control. Real-time polymerase chain reaction amplification of GABAA receptor subunits—GABAAά1 , GABAAά5, and GABAAδ —was downregulated ( P < 0.001) in the cerebellum of epileptic rats compared with control rats. Epileptic rats exhibit deficits in radial arm and Y-maze performance. Treatment with B. monnieri and bacoside A reversed these changes to near-control levels. Our results suggest that changes in GABAergic activity, motor learning, and memory deficit are induced by the occurrence of repetitive seizures. Treatment with B. monnieri and bacoside A prevents the occurrence of seizures thereby reducing the impairment of GABAergic activity, motor learning, and memory deficit.