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Failure of Curcumin in inhibiting epileptiform discharge of hippocampal slices of rat induced by Mg2+-free artificial cerebrospinal fluid

CHANG Yan-yan1, GONG Xin-wei2, GONG Hai-qing2, ZHANG Pu-ming2, LIANG Pei-ji2, LU Qin-chi1   

  1. 1.Department of Neurology, Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200127, China; 2.School of Biomedical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
  • Online:2014-09-28 Published:2014-09-26
  • Supported by:

    Shanghai Jiao Tong University Fund for Interdisciplinary Research for Medical Applications, YG2012ZD08

Abstract:

Objective To investigate whether curcumin has direct inhibitory effect on the epileptiform discharge by comparing the effects of curcumin and antiepileptic drug of valproate. Methods The epileptiform discharge of hippocampal slices of the rat induced by Mg2+-free artificial cerebrospinal fluid (ACSF) was recorded by the multi-electrode array (MEA). After epileptiform discharge was successfully induced, curcumin of 100 μmol/L or valproate of 3 mmol/L was applied and their effects on the epileptiform discharge were observed. Results After Mg2+-free ACSF was continuous perfused for 15 min, the epileptiform discharge of all regions of hippocampal slices was recorded by the MEA. Curcumin of 100 μmol/L did not significantly affect the frequency, duration, and propagation speed of epileptiform discharge (P>0.05). Valproate of 3 mmol/L significantly decreased the frequency of epileptiform discharge (P<0.05) and the propagation speed at retrograde direction (P<0.05). Conclusion Curcumin of 100 μmol/L fails to inhibit the epileptiform discharge of hippocampal slices of the rat induced by Mg2+-free ACSF.

Key words: epileptiform discharge, micro-electrode array, curcumin, valproate, hippocampal slice