INFLUENCE OF LEVETIRACETAM ON AGGRAVATION OF MEMORY IMPAIRMENT BY VALPROATE: A STUDY ON PILOCARPINE MOUSE MODEL OF TEMPORAL LOBE EPILEPSY

Association of memory impairment (MI) with epilepsy, majorly in temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) is considerably a tricky condition where existing treatment options involving the administration of anti-epileptic drugs (AED’s) tend to worsen the stated incidence. This study evaluates the aggravating effect of valproate (VAL) at normal and reduced doses on MI associated with TLE and additionally assesses the protective effect of levetiracetam (LEV) on this undesirable link. Albino mice of either sex (n = 36) were employed for the study period of 64 days where seizures were induced by intraperitoneal administration of pilocarpine followed by evaluation of anti-epileptic activity by technique of Racine scores. Assessment of errors, a factor for degree of MI was executed by employment of radial arm maze. Finally brain biochemical measures of Acetyl cholinesterase and glutamate along with cresyl violet staining and estimation of total neuronal number of the hippocampus were performed. Both at normal and reduced doses of VAL exhibited augmentation of MI on temporal lobe epileptic mice. Although reduction in VAL dose brought about a decline in the degree of MI, the same diminished the anticonvulsant potency which isn’t recommended. However the combinatorial approach with LEV not only brought about the correction in impaired memory but also replaced the lost potency. These findings were reflected in brain studies. This research could thus establish a launch in seizure therapy involving the combination of a memory enhancer with an AED to limit the adverse effect of MI associated with temporal lobe epilepsy.