Experimental On Prophylaxis Of Febrile Convulsion And Brain Injuries With Levetiracetam, Phenobarbital And Valproate

ObjectiveTo find a suitable dose of levetiracetam for preventing the febrile convulsion, We explored experimental research on prophylaxis of FC and the protection of seizure-induced cerebral damage in rats with levetiracetam (LEV), phenobarbital (PB) and valproate (VPA), to assess the different efficacy of various drugs in prevention of recurrent FC and on brain injuries.MethodsThe animal models of febrile convulsions were induced with hyperthermal bath at 45℃every other day in Wistar rats. Induced rats were randomly divided into LEV-, PB-, VPA-, NS- and normal-treated groups. Manifestation and differences of convulsions were observed in all these groups. After febrile convulsions were induced and treated, we observed the ultrastructural alterations of hippocampal neurons by electron microscopy, detected the serum level of neuron special enolase (NSE) and S-100B protein, Recorded the latencies to escape onto the platform by water maze test. Results1. The latency and duration of convulsion:The shortest of latency was that of NS group (272.0±61.4s), and the longest was that of PB group (328.0±62.1s). Significant difference was observed between NS group and the other three medicine-treated groups (P<0.01). No significant difference was observed between LEV, PB and VPA group (P>0.05). The shortest of duration was that of PB group (90.1±40.0s), and the longest was that of NS group (136.4±40.0s). Significant difference was observed between NS group and the other three medicine-treated groups (P<0.05).The same was observed between PB group and LEV group or VPA group (P<0.05).No significant difference was observed between LEV group and VPA group (P>0.05).2. The degree of convulsion:The PB group was the lightest, and the NS group was the severest one. Significant difference was observed between NS group and other three medicine-treated groups (P<0.05), and the similar result was observed between PB group and LEV group or VPA group (P<0.05). No significant difference was observed between LEV group and VPA group (P>0.05)3. The serum level of NSE and S-100B:Both the serum level of NSE and S-100B was significantly higher in NS group than those in normal group (P<0.05), and was no significantly lower than in VPA group (P>0.05). Significant difference was observed between LEV group and NS group or LEV group and VPA group (P<0.05). No significant difference was observed between LEV group and PB group, and the same result was observed between LEV group and normal group (P>0.05)4. The results of Water-maze test:No significant difference in latencies to escape onto the platform was observed between NS group and other groups (P>0.05) except LEV group, and the same result was observed between LEV, VPA or PB group and normal group (P>0.05). No significant difference in space exploration was observed between LEV group, VPA group and the normal group (P>0.05),the similar result was observed between VPA and LEV group (P>0.05), and there was a significant difference between PB-treated and VPA-treated or LEV-treated group (P<0.05)ConclusionLEV, VPA and PB are well-known to have the anti-epileptic effect, which have different action mechanisms and various indications. Our research showed that continuous administration of all the three antiepilepsy drugs, LEV, VPA and PB, was effective in preventing recurrent FC and protecting brain injuries, though they had minor differences. This research is the first to explore the prevention of FC and protection of seizure-induced cerebral damage in rats with levetiracetam (LEV)...