An investigation into the effect of minocycline on gene expression of NMDA receptor in hippocampus and piriform brain areas on amygdala kindling acquisition in rats

Background and Minocycline has got the anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective effects. Considering the interaction between cell death and seizure, and on the other hand, Kindling which increases expression NMDA receptors in brain, the aim of this study is to investigate the effect of minocycline on gene expression of NMDA receptor in hippocampus and piriform brain areas on amygdale kindling acquisition in rats. In this experimental study, three animal groups of 24 Wistar rats received kindling stimulations (twice daily within 6 hours intervals) after being stereotaxic operated and taking one week recovery period. In first Group (n=8) animals did not received daily kindling stimulations. Animals of the second and the third Groups (n=8) respectively had been injected by saline (1ml/kg) and minocycline (25 mg/kg), 60 minutes before receiving kindling stimulations. Two hours after last stimulation animal’s brains were removed and the changes of NR2A gene subunit of NMDA receptor in the hippocampus and piriform cortex were measured and compared relative to the control group. Datawere analyzed using ANOVA and Tukey post hoc tests at significant level of P<0/05. Intraperitoneal administration of minocycline before kindling stimulations prevented an increase in the mRNA of NR2A subunit of NMDA receptor in hippocampus and piriform cortex of amygdala kindling. The results of this study have shown that minocycline administration before electrical stimulation has anticonvulsant effects which are applied through a decrease in expression of NMDA receptors.