The effects of acute physical activity on severity of seizures induced in rats by homocysteine thiolactone

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to determine the effects of acute, single boost of physical activity on seizures induced by homocysteine thiolactone in rats, using treadmill for small experimental animals as a paradigm of physical activity. MATERIAL AND METHODS: After adaptation to the treadmill, Wistar albino rats were randomly divided into acute physical activity and sedentary group. Animals from the acute physical activity group ran at the speed of 25 m/min for 30 min, while the sedentary group spent the same time in the treadmill with the speed of 0 m/min. Immediately after completion of the training, all animals were administered with the D, L homocysteine thiolactone at a dose of 5.5 mmol/kg, i.p. Convulsive behavior (incidence, severity, seizure latency and number of seizure episodes per rat) was observed during the next 90 min. RESULTS: After acute administration of homocysteine, the latency to the first seizure in trained group wasn’t significantly shortened, nor the number of convulsive episodes per rat ,compared to the sedentary group of animals. Also, there was no statistically significant difference between groups in the incidence and intensity of convulsive episodes. CONCLUSION: Based on the results of this study we can conclude that acute boost of physical activity does not potentiates seizures induced by homocysteine thiolactone in rat, what is a favorable conclusion for patients with epilepsy.