Effects of preconditioning exercise on nitric oxide and antioxidants in hippocampus of epileptic seizure.

The mechanism of epileptic seizure has not been identified clearly. Exercise can play a role of antioxidants against oxidative stress. In the present study, the neuroprotective effects of preconditioning exercise on epileptic seizure were investigated with focusing on antioxidants activity in the hippocampus. Rats were allocated to the following groups: saline control group, kainic acid control group, and previous exercise and kainic acid group. Rats in the previous exercise and kainic acid group were subjected to treadmill exercise 5 days a week for 4 weeks. After 48 hr of exercise period, rats in the kainic acid control group and previous exercise and kainic acid group were injected with kainic acid. The number of neuronal nitric oxide synthase-positive cells and the level of nitrite in hippocampus were increased and the expressions of superoxide dismutase-1, superoxide dismutase-2, and catalase in hippocampus were reduced in kainic acid control group compared with saline control group. By contrast, in the previous exercise and kainic acid group, the number of neuronal nitric oxide synthase-positive cells and the level of nitrite were decreased and the expressions of superoxide dismutase-1, superoxide dismutase-2, and catalase were increased compared with the kainic acid control group. Preconditioning exercise may have neuroprotective effects against oxidative stress via increased antioxidant activity in the hippocampus of epileptic seizure.