Prednisolone attenuates seizure severity and neuroinflammation in a pentylenetetrazole-induced acute epilepsy model

Epilepsy is a brain disorder characterized by alterations in the neuronal environment that predispose individuals to spontaneous and recurrent epileptic seizures. One of the major challenges in recent years has been the accurate diagnosis and appropriate pharmacological management of the condition. When seizures are not well controlled, individuals may develop status epilepticus, a condition with an unfavorable prognosis that requires immediate attention and treatment. Furthermore, approximately 30 % of patients are refractory to conventional treatments. In this study, we evaluated the effects of prednisolone in an acute animal model of epileptic seizures induced by pentylenetetrazole (PTZ) at doses of 1 mg/kg and 5 mg/kg. We analyzed the severity of epileptic seizures and the modulation of pro-inflammatory cytokines in treated animals. Four treatment groups were used: saline solution, diazepam (2 mg/kg), prednisolone (1 mg/kg), and prednisolone (5 mg/kg). The animals were treated, and after 30 min, PTZ (60 mg/kg) was administered. Levels of the cytokines interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) were measured in the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex. Animals treated with prednisolone exhibited less severe epileptic seizures compared to the saline group, along with reduced levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines, particularly in the prefrontal cortex. Some animals were also assessed using EEG. Consistent with our previous studies, prednisolone demonstrated an anticonvulsant effect at doses of 1 mg/kg and 5 mg/kg in the acute PTZ-induced seizure model.