Study of Anticonvulsant effect of Simvastatin in Maximal Electroshock and Pentylenetetrazole Induced Seizure Model In Albino Mice

Abstract

Epilepsy is a common neurological condition affecting people of all ages and both sexes. Most of the currently used antiepileptic drugs have neurotoxic and teratogenic effects. There are scanty reports of anticonvulsant activity with statins. The present study was undertaken to evaluate the anticonvulsant effect of simvastatin using MES and PTZ models in mice and compare it with the standard drugs phenytoin and diazepam respectively.64 albino mice of either sex weighing 25-35g were divided into 8 groups of 8 mice each – 4 group each for MES and PTZ model. In MES model, seizures were induced via trans auricular electrodes with a current of 80mA for 0.2 second. Each mouse was pretreated with drugs 30 minutes before in both models. The different groups 1 to 4 were administered polyethylene glycol (0.5ml/Kg), phenytoin (20mg/kg), simvastatin (10mg/Kg) and simvastatin (20mg/Kg) respectively. In PTZ model, seizures were induced by giving PTZ 80mg/Kg. The different groups 5 to 8 were administered polyethylene glycol (0.5ml/Kg), diazepam (2mg/kg), simvastatin (10mg/Kg) and simvastatin (20mg/Kg) respectively. Statistical analysis was doneby ANOVA followed by Tukey’s post hoc analysis for group wise comparison. Results indicated that the anticonvulsant effect of simvastatin (10 and 20mg/Kg) was comparable to phenytoin in the MES model. In the PTZ model, simvastatin (10mg/Kg) produced a reduction in seizure duration but did not provide seizure protection as compared to that of the diazepam. The present study demonstrated the anticonvulsant effect of simvastatin. Further studies may explore the potential of this as an add-on drug in patients with dyslipidemia and epilepsy.