Abstract
Background Epilepsy, a prevalent neurological disorder characterized by
recurrent seizures, presents significant challenges in treatment and management.
This study aimed to evaluate the effect of tropisetron, a selective 5-HT3
receptor antagonist on pentylenetetrazole (PTZ) – induced seizure in mice by
exploring the potential role of the NMDA receptor and inflammatory
responses.
Methods For this purpose, seizures were induced by intravenous PTZ
infusion. Tropisetron at 1-, 2-, 3-, 5-, 10- mg/kg were administered
intraperitoneally 30 minutes before PTZ. To evaluate probable role of NMDA
signaling, selective NMDAR antagonists, ketamine and MK-801, were injected
15 minutes before tropisetron. Also, TNF-α level of hippocampus were measured
following administration of mentioned drugs in mice.
Results Our results demonstrate that tropisetron displayed a
dose-dependent impact on seizure threshold, with certain doses (5 and 10 mg/kg)
exhibiting anticonvulsant properties. In addition, the noncompetitive NMDAR
antagonists, ketamine (1 mg/kg) and MK-801 (0.5 mg/kg), at doses that had no
effect on seizure threshold, augmented the anticonvulsant effect of tropisetron
(3 mg/kg). Also, tropisetron led to a reduction in hippocampal TNF-α levels,
indicating its anti-inflammatory potential independent of 5-HT receptor
activity.
Conclusion In conclusion, we demonstrated that the anticonvulsant effect
of tropisetron is mediated by the inhibition of NMDA receptors and a decline in
hippocampal TNF-α level. These findings highlight a potential connection between
5-HT3 and NMDA receptors in the pharmacological treatment of inflammatory
diseases, such as seizure, warranting further investigation into their combined
therapeutic effects.