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Anti-Inflammatory Effects of Vitamin D On Seizure-Induced Hippocampal Inflammation In Rats

Objectives: The evidence indicates that seizures may affect hippocampus. In our previous study, it was determined that vitamin D (vD) prevents seizure-related hippocampal apoptosis. We aimed to elucidate the anti-inflammatory effects of vD on hippocampal inflammation after seizures. Methods: Forty-eight, 5.5-weeks old, Sprague Dawley male rats were randomly divided into six groups: control, vD, pentylenetetrazole (PTZ), kainic acid (KA), PTZ+vD, and KA+vD. In the groups of receiving vD, 500 IU/kg/day of vitamin D3 was given orally for two weeks, before the seizure induction by PTZ or KA. At the end of the 24 hours following seizures, animals were decapitated and hippocampal tissues were examined. The CD11b and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) to evaluate inflammation-related microglia and astrocyte activations were studied by immunohistochemical method. The IL-1β, TNF-α, IL-10, toll-like receptor-4 (TLR4), c-jun-N-terminal kinase-1 (JNK1), and vitamin D receptor gene expressions were evaluated by real time-PCR. Results: In the hippocampus, increased CD11b and GFAP activations, increased expressions of IL-1β, TNF-α, JNK1, and TLR4 and decrease in IL-10 expression, were detected in PTZ and KA groups, when compared to controls (p=0.001). In animals pretreated with vD before PTZ or KA, the CD11b and GFAP activations (p<0.001), and IL-1β and TLR4 expressions (p=0.001) were decreased. Vitamin-D administration before PTZ, provided a decrease in JNK1 and TNF-α expressions (p=0.005 and p=0.002, respectively). Conclusion: Vitamin D showed a protective effect against seizure-induced hippocampal inflammation in rats. Our study draws attention to the importance of keeping vD levels within normal limits in patients with epilepsy.