Supplementation With Pearl Millet Enhances Hippocampal Gaba-ergic And Suppresses Glutamatergic Systems In Pentylenetetrazole-kindled Wistar Rats

Abstract

Background: Pearl millets (PMS) has been reported to exert various health benefits, including anti-diabetic, anti-microbial and anti-convulsant effects. Objectives: To evaluate the effect of PMS supplementation in Hippocampal GABA-ergic and Glutamatergic Systems in Pentylenetetrazole (PTZ) kindled Wistar rats. Methodology: Induction of PTZ-kindled seizures in Wistar rats involves the grouping of 40 rats into 5 groups (normal saline, 200 mg/kg sodium valproate, 25% PMS, 50 % PMS and 100 % PMS) with each group receiving PTZ (35 mg/kg) on every alternate day for 30 days. Thirty minutes after each PTZ injection, the rats were observed for seizure behaviour using the Racine scale. The hippocampal tissues were isolated, homogenised and used to determine GABA levels, GABAA receptor, GABA-3-transporter, glutamate levels, NMDA receptor, and glutamate-2-transporter. Results: PMS Supplementation significantly increased the mean amount of hippocampal GABA [F(4,20)=10.39, p<0.01] compared to 100% PGM + NS + PTZ. PMS also significantly [F(4,20)=3.22, p=0.03] up-regulated mean GABAA receptor but the decreased mean GAT-3 compared to rats treated with 100 % PGM + NS + PTZ was not statistically significant. Low levels of mean hippocampal glutamate were observed in PTZ-kindled Wistar rats fed with all doses of PMS compared to 100 % PGM + NS + PTZ-treated rats. However, the difference was not statistically significant. At 25 % PMS [F(4,20)=9.65, p<0.01] significantly down-regulated mean hippocampal N2-NMDA receptor. All PMS-treated groups significantly [F(4,20)=14.57, p<0.01] increased the mean quantity of hippocampal glutamate-2- transporter as compared to 100 % PGM + NS + PTZ. Conclusion: PMS increased hippocampal transmission while supplementation GABA-ergic suppressing glutamatergic signalling in PTZ-kindled Wistar rat