Investigation of the Effects of Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus GG Administration on Penicillin-Induced Epileptiform...

Excitatory/inhibitory balance, oxidative and antioxidative regulatory systems play a role in the pathophysiology of epilepsy. In addition, intestinal dysbiosis is also involved in the pathophysiology of epilepsy. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus GG (L. rhamnosus or LBR) on epileptic seizures and gamma aminobutyric acid (GABA), malondealdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD, glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and catalase (CAT) levels in serum and brain tissue in a penicillin-induced acute seizure model in rats. The study included 70 adult Wistar albino rats, which were divided into 10 groups: Control(CONT), Penicillin (PEN), only LBR-4 (OLBR-4), Diazepam-4 + Penicillin (DZM-4 + PEN), LBR-4 + Penicillin (LBR-4 + PEN), LBR + Diazepam-4 + Penicillin (LBR-DZM-4 + PEN), only LBR-10 (OLBR-10), Diazepam-10 + Penicillin (DZM-10 + PEN), LBR-10 + Penicillin (LBR-10 + PEN), and LBR + Diazepam-10 + Penicillin (LBR-DZM-10 + PEN). 1 × 10¹⁰ cfu/mL of L. rhamnosus was given to the L. rhamnosus groups via gavage for 4 or 10 weeks depending on the duration of administration. The DZM groups received 2 mg/kg DZM intramuscularly. The rats were anesthetized and electrodes were placed in the somatomotor area after the left side of the skull was opened. Penicillin was administered intracortically and ECoG was recorded for 120 min. Levels of GABA, MDA, SOD, CAT, and GPx were determined using the ELISA method. L. rhamnosus administration reduced spike-wave frequency (SWF), total spike-wave frequency (TSWF), spike-wave amplitude (SWA), and MDA levels (p < 0.05). In contrast, it increased levels of GABA, SOD, CAT, and GPx (p < 0.05). L. rhamnosus may exert a preclinical antiepileptiform effect in an acute seizure model of epilepsy.