The effect of acetylcholinesterase inhibitor rivastigmine in pentylenetetrazole-induced kindling model of epilepsy in rats

This study aimed to investigate the role of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BuChE) inhibitor rivastigmine (RIVA) in the pentylenetetrazole (PTZ)- induced kindling model of epilepsy. The current study consists of three steps; 1) Saline or RIVA (0.5, 1, and 2 mg/kg) was administered intraperitoneally (i.p.) 15 min before PTZ (35 mg/kg) during the kindling process and seizure behaviors were observed; 2) Single doses of RIVA (0.25, 0.5, and 1 mg/kg; i.p.) was administered to the electrode implanted kindled rats 15 min before PTZ and electrocorticogram (ECoG) recordings were obtained; 3) Low-dose of RIVA (0.5 mg/kg) was administered to the kindled rats for 14 consecutive days and after 24 h PTZ was administered and ECoG recordings were obtained. In addition, 24 h after the PTZ injection, the hippocampus was extracted and mRNA expression levels of N-methyl D-aspartate receptor subunit 2B (NR2B) and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) were measured by qPCR analysis. Only low-dose of RIVA increased resistance against kindling. Single and long-term administration of low-dose RIVA increased the latency to the first myoclonic jerk, decreased the duration of generalized tonic–clonic seizures, and reduced the seizure stage in kindled rats. Long-term low-dose RIVA treatment decreased the mRNA expressions of NR2B and BDNF, which were increased after PTZ kindling. Low-dose of RIVA showed anticonvulsant properties, while high doses did not. RIVA exerts its anticonvulsant effect probably through NMDAR-BDNF pathways. Our results suggest that the use of RIVA may not be harmful and even reduce seizure severity in epileptic patients with convulsions.