Investigating the Effects of Allium sativum on the Prefrontal Cortex in Lithium Chloride Pilocarpine-Induced Epilepsy in Wistar Rat

The prefrontal cortex (PFC), mediating executive brain functions is impaired in epilepsy. Allium sativum (AS) anti-seizure potential on the PFC of experimentally-induced epilepsy was investigated. Forty-eight male Wistar rats (200-250g) were randomized into six groups. Control (2mL/kg distilled water); AS only (100mg/kg); LiCl+PC (lithium chloride, 127mg/kg, and pilocarpine, 30mg/kg); LiCl+PC+AS100mg/kg and LiCl+PC+AS300mg/kg received LiCl+PC and 100mg/kg AS and 300mg/kg AS respectively; LiCl+PC+SV received LiCl+PC and sodium valproate (10mg/kg). Treatments lasted for 21 days, behavioural tests then preceded sacrifice. Brain tissues were excised, fixed in 10% neutral buffered formalin for demonstration of PFC cytoarchitecture and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) expression. Neurotransmitters were also assayed. Walling and rearing frequencies reduced significantly (p<0.05) in the LiCl+PC group compared to control. Glutamate and acetylcholine levels increased in all groups except AS only, while gamma-aminobutyric acid, dopamine, serotonin and norepinephrine levels increased in the LiCl+PC+AS100mg/kg, LiCl+PC+AS300mg/kg and LiCl+PC+SV groups compared to the control. Cytochrome C oxidase and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase activities significantly increased (p<0.05) in all groups, while nitric oxide levels increased in the LiCl+PC+AS300mg/kg and LiCl+PC+SV groups compared to the control. Cytoarchitecturally, the LiCl+PC PFC showed neurodegenerative features, increased GFAP expression, while the treated groups showed preserved neurons and mild astrogliosis. Conclusively, AS showed neuroprotective potentials against LiCl+PC-induced neuronal degeneration, mitigated reactive PFC astrogliosis. However, AS did not lower glutamate and other neurotransmitter levels.