The Effect of Minocycline on Cerebellar Purkinje Neurons in Epileptic Rats

Background and purpose: Minocycline is an antibiotic which has anti-inflammatory and anti-seizure properties. There is no reliable evidence on the effect of Minocycline on histological structures of cerebellar Purkinje neurons. This study aimed at elucidating this effect in epileptic rats. This experimental study was conducted in 24 rats which were randomly divided into three different groups (n=8 per group). In groups I and II epilepsy was induced by pentylenetetrazole at 40mg/Kg. Group I was administrated minocycline at 25 mg/Kg whereas group II was given normal saline at 25 mg/Kg for two weeks. Group III was the control that received only normal saline. The rats were all deeply anesthetized and cerebellectomized. All removed cerebella were stained by APAF-1 (Apoptotic Peptidase Activating Factor -1), then safe normal Purkinje neurons were counted. Data analysis was done applying Dunnett test. Significant difference was seen in mean number of normal neurons between groups I and II and the control group (p<0.001). Compared with group II, we observed a significant increase in mean number of normal Purkinje neurons in group I (p<0.01). Treatment with minocycline was found to have protective effect on Purkinje neurons in the cerebellum of epileptic rats.