CLINICAL, BIOCHEMICAL AND EXPERIMENTAL STUDY ON THE ROLE OF FREE RADICALS AND ANTIOXIDANTS IN PRIMARY GENERALIZED TONIC CLONIC SEIZURES

Abstract

Epilepsy is, unquestionably, one of the commonest neurological disorders. The mechanism of epileptogenesis is not established. Free radicals have been postulated to contribute in many neurological disorder including epilepsy. They can initiate disruptive peroxidation reactions with ... l ... . . .,. ' cell constituents, which are important to the survival of cells.•• • •

The lipid peroxidation of cell membrane, due to increase in free radicals or decrease in activities of antioxidant defense mechanisms, has been suggested to play a role in the pathogenesis of different types of epilepsy as well as in the increased incidence of recurrence of seizures. ! '

It has been suggested that part of the effectiveness of antiepileptic

•. drugs (AEDs) is due to influencing free radical generating systems. An excessive free radicals production was found in epileptic patients under treatment with AEDs. More complex changes were seen in polytherapeutic \ f ( • I ) J) . combination. '

Epilepsy 1s a disorder of the nervous system in which the fui;J.Ctional ' involvement of NO has been demonesterated by many researchers. Although•

. the importance ofNO in epileptogenesis is well established, the Jature of the

NO mediated inhibitory or excitatory effect in the genesis of or spreading of ' ' . ) epileptic phenomena or both is still contradictory. I. \' The aim of this study is to evaluate the role of free radicals and antioxidants in primary generalized tonic clonic seizure, both in human and experimental animals, and to determine their relation with commonly used anticonvulsants. The precise role of nitric oxide in modulating seizures is also assessed, by using the selective nitric oxide synthase inhibitor.